Cricket

'Heera hee Heere ko pehchanta hai' - Fans react as Sunil Gavaskar gets his shirt signed by MS Dhoni after CSK's final home game in IPL 2023

Sunil Gavaskar got his shirt signed by MS Dhoni after their final home game of IPL 2023 in Chepauk. Here's how fans reacted.

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MS Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar, IPL 2023

MS Dhoni and Sunil Gavaskar, IPL 2023 (Source: Twitter)

In CSK's final home game, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated MS Dhoni's men by 6 wickets on Sunday. The hosts would have been the first team to make the playoffs this season if they had won the game. However, they must wait a full week to guarantee a spot in the knockout rounds as they have their final group-stage match on Saturday in Delhi.

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Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine vandalised the CSK top-order after choosing to bat first. The hosts were in trouble at 72 for 5 when Shivam Dube demonstrated his versatility by slamming a 34-ball 48 alongside Ravindra Jadeja. In 20 overs, the pair added 68 runs together for the sixth wicket to help CSK reach 144 for 6. In response, KKR also got off to a shaky start, falling to 33 for 3 in the fifth over. However, a 99-run partnership between Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh saved the squad and gave them a 6-wicket victory, preserving their play of opportunities.

CSK are in the race for IPL 2023 playoffs after their loss to KKR

Despite the defeat, Dhoni and company received unending support from the Chennai crowd as they completed a lap of the Chepauk and distributed gifts to spectators. Sunil Gavaskar, a former captain of India and legendary batsman, approached the CSK skipper and demanded an autograph on his shirt.

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Sunil Gavaskar, currently a member of the IPL 2023 commentary crew, maintained his composure as Dhoni autographed his shirt and hugged him. The event was recorded on camera, and CSK's official Instagram account offered a peek. They captioned the post, "This goes straight into our hearts."

When Dhoni acknowledged the cheering supporters at the Chepauk, he was all smiles. The captain completed a full circuit of the stadium while wearing an ice bag tied around his legs and pleased the crowd by distributing CSK trinkets. CSK's Instagram page posted a video of the incident with the caption, "A special lap of honour filled with memorable moments ft. @mahi7781 & Co. and the ever-so-energetic Chepauk crowd." With 15 points, Chennai continues to occupy the second place. However, as the competition moves towards the final week before the playoffs, nine out of ten teams are still in the running.

Here's how fans reacted:

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Chennai Super Kings featured IPL Twitter Reactions IPL 2023 Sunil Gavaskar Indian Premier League MS Dhoni