After Chennai Super Kings' thrilling win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Dhoni initially missed shaking hands with Sakariya during the customary post-match exchange.

Rishabh Pant's ongoing struggles in IPL 2025 have alarmed former cricketers, with Virender Sehwag and Shaun Pollock offering different takes on his dip in form. Pant’s most recent knock, a slow 18 off 17 balls, came during LSG’s 37-run loss to Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. His lack of form has prompted Sehwag to advise some self-reflection.

Originally drafted as an injury replacement for Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mhatre had already shown promise in earlier appearances against MI and SRH. His transition into the CSK setup has been smooth, thanks in part to familiar faces like Shivam Dube.

Kohli also expressed gratitude for the fans: “The love that I have received from the fans, I do not think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that,” he said.

This season, Kohli is in sublime form, having scored 443 runs in 10 games. Dhoni, now primarily playing the role of finisher, has chipped in with 151 runs in the same number of outings.

Though Dhoni had a storybook finish last season, leading CSK to a fifth title, his decision to return may not have gone as hoped. While fans may still dream of another season, voices like Gilchrist’s suggest it may be time for the legend to walk away.

Their season began with a win over Mumbai Indians at Chepauk, but consistent losses have since exposed glaring issues. The middle order has underperformed, with Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, and Rahul Tripathi failing to deliver.

RR team manager Romi Bhinder shared insights into Sooryavanshi’s recent interactions with the two iconic players. Reflecting on a match earlier this season against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati, Bhinder recalled a memorable exchange between Dhoni and the rising star.

Sehwag listed names he expects could be let go in the overhaul: "Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, R. Ashwin, and Vijay Shankar — these are names we might not see in CSK next season... Now, if you’re building a team — build it for the next ten years, not just one season."

Before Gavaskar, other cricket stars like MS Dhoni and Axar Patel have interacted with Champak. More recently, a video of Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya sharing a light moment with the robot dog, accompanied by MI owner Akash Ambani, also went viral.