NEW DELHI: Indian legend and former Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni has returned to the nets ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The sight of Dhoni batting again has instantly lifted the mood among fans who are eagerly waiting to see Thala in action, possibly for one last time in this prestigious league.

Casual session, familiar touch

In a video shared by the CSK handle, Dhoni was seen knocking around in the nets in a very relaxed manner. He was dressed casually in a t-shirt and yellow pants, without a helmet, and was facing a red ball.

Dhoni practised against spin, mostly defending the ball and working on his backfoot punches. Those shots, once his trademark during his prime days, instantly reminded fans of the calm and control that defined his batting.

An emotion for Indian cricket

MS Dhoni is not just a cricketer for India. He is an emotion for the entire Indian cricketing fraternity. One of the most successful captains the game has ever seen, Dhoni has all three ICC trophies to his name.

He has also scored more than 16,000 international runs, leading India through some of its most memorable moments on the global stage.

When it comes to the IPL, Dhoni is a living legend. As captain, he has won five IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings, the joint most alongside Rohit Sharma.

With the bat, Mahi has 5,439 IPL runs to his name along with 24 half centuries. Thala’s impact, however, has never been limited to numbers alone.