3-ball partnership, off-the-charts cheers: Rachin Ravindra reflects on batting with MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with a 4-wicket victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. Mumbai, on the back of a blazing debut by Vignesh Puthur, threatened the home team in the chase. However, there was no running away from the curse of a defeat in the opening match for MI. The 155-run chase, made an uphill task for CSK because of Vignesh's wickets that dismantled the middle order, was completed by a gritty stay from Rachin Ravindra. Opening the innings, Rachin stayed right till the end to ensure a victory for his team, closing the match with a sixer at Chepauk.

As fate would have it, a run-out for Ravindra Jadeja made way for the excited Chepauk crowd to witness their beloved Thala take the ground. Amid a roaring crowd, with the noise in Chennai breaking any limits, MS Dhoni entered with Chennai needing only four to win. Until then, Rachin Ravindra had made the task easy. After sailing patiently through the chase with a run-a-ball knock, Ravindra knocked Vignesh Puthur, Mumbai's hero against CSK in the match, for back-to-back sixes. While the majority of the crowd would have wanted otherwise, it was only fitting that Ravindra closed off the match with a sixer.

Dhoni played two dot balls before the strike changed with the turn of the over. Rachin, already done with his fifty, took no time from there on. The first ball of the last over, bowled by Mitchell Santner, was launched over mid-wicket to seal the victory for CSK. Immediately, the opener approached MS Dhoni, the master of finishing off, on the other end as he animatedly explained something to the former CSK captain. Overall, it was a good outing for Rachin, who fought his way into the CSK Playing XI against his New Zealand compatriot, Devon Conway.

A part of the CSK camp since IPL 2024, the CSK vs MI IPL 2025 match was the first instance of Rachin batting with Dhoni, no matter how short it lasted. Jadeja's wicket found no mourners as Chepauk erupted at the sight of Dhoni coming in next. As Rachin wrapped up the match, the 25-year-old opened up about having Dhoni on the other end and what it meant for the crowd.

“It's difficult to fully take it in when you're in the moment because you're so focused on winning the game for the team. But it's hard to ignore the excitement—hearing the crowd cheer for Dhoni, the whistles, and the noise. It's incredible to share the crease with him for the first time,” Rachin said.

“He’s a legend of the game, and the people love him here, so it’s definitely special. I’m sure the crowd hoped I’d give him the chance to finish the game, but it’s all about getting the job done. Dhoni has finished so many games for CSK, and I’m sure there will be plenty more to come,” he added.