IPL 2025: Wankhede Joins Chepauk as a Sacred Ground for Dhoni
IPL 2025: Wankhede Joins Chepauk as a Sacred Ground in Dhoni’s Storied Career
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season dawns, all eyes turn to Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend whose bond with stadiums across India stirs nostalgia and reverence.
While the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai—affectionately called Chepauk—remains his undisputed fortress, Dhoni recently revealed that Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium holds a cherished second place in his heart, a sentiment that resonates deeply as CSK prepares to face Mumbai Indians (MI) twice this season.
Dhoni, retained by CSK as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore, shared his reflections ahead of the IPL kickoff. “Chepauk is home, but Wankhede has its own magic,” he told Inside Sport India. “The 2007 T20 World Cup win landed us here with an unforgettable welcome, and then the 2011 final—that six—it’s hard to top those memories.”
His iconic 91 not out in the 2011 ODI World Cup final, capped by a match-winning six off Nuwan Kulasekara, etched Wankhede into cricketing lore, with seats J282-J286 now immortalized by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
In IPL 2025, CSK’s schedule amplifies this connection. They’ll clash with MI on March 23 at Chepauk and again on April 20 at Wankhede—two high-voltage encounters promising roaring crowds and yellow-clad devotion.
Dhoni’s IPL record at Wankhede—392 runs across 27 matches, including 17 sixes—pales beside his emotional tie to the venue, where he last dazzled in 2024 with a 20-run, four-ball cameo, including three consecutive sixes off Hardik Pandya.
At 43, with speculation swirling about his final season, Dhoni’s love for Wankhede adds a poignant layer to IPL 2025. Whether finishing with a flourish or mentoring from the dugout, his presence ensures both stadiums will pulse with ‘Thala’ fever, cementing a legacy that transcends boundaries.
