"Thala' MS Dhoni Joins CSK In Chennai Ahead Of IPL 2024. Internet Explodes

Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni landed in Chennai on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The defending champions posted a picture of Dhoni, who led them to their fifth title last season, exiting a vehicle on social media, captioning it "#THA7A Dharisanam!" Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni's final one as a player. Last year, the 42-year-old mostly came out to bat towards the fag end of CSK innings. CSK began their pre-season training camp on Saturday with the first batch of CSK players landing here a day before.

The players who have arrived so far include Deepak Chahar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Shaik Rasheed and Nishant Sindhu (all-rounder).

#THA7A Dharisanam!#DenComing pic.twitter.com/dJbdsDd6wf — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 5, 2024

CSK will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22. 

Barely two weeks before the start of the IPL, the enigmatic MS Dhoni sent speculation into overdrive by claiming that a "new role" awaits him in the "new season" in a viral social media post on Monday.

The former India captain, who led the Chennai Super Kings to their fifth IPL title last season, however, neither mentioned the league nor elaborated on the new role, leaving everyone guessing.

"Can't wait for the new season and the new 'role'. Stay tuned!," Dhoni wrote in a rare social media post on Facebook. Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni's final one as a player.

ThalaiVanakkam!#DenComing pic.twitter.com/YYsyEXPAJY — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 5, 2024

Last year, the 42-year-old mostly came out to bat towards the fag end of CSK innings. He has not yet clarified on whether he will captain CSK in IPL 2024.

At the post-match ceremony after winning the final last year, Dhoni was asked if he will retire on a high, but the Ranchi dasher, in his inimitable style, deflected the query by saying that it would amount to taking an easy way out.

He went on to add that he would try to come back next season as CSK captain if his body allowed him.