CSK’s ‘ROAR 2026’ Fan Event Lights Up Chepauk as Dhoni, Bravo Set Stage on Fire
Chennai Super Kings united past and present stars in an unforgettable pre-season celebration that had fans in tears and on their feet
Chennai Super Kings turned back the clock at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday as their much-anticipated ‘ROAR 2026’ fan event brought together some of the franchise’s greatest legends ahead of the new IPL season.
The highlight of the evening came when former CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni joined Dwayne Bravo on stage as the West Indian entertainer performed his iconic anthem Champion. The two embraced warmly before breaking into a dance together — a moment that instantly went viral across social media.
A sea of yellow erupted as the 44-year-old Dhoni made his entrance at Chepauk, with the entire stadium rising to its feet in a thunderous welcome. Dhoni then took to the field for some wicketkeeping, interacted with fans, and rounded off the evening by leading the team on a lap of honour, smashing tennis balls into the stands along the way.
In an emotional reunion segment dubbed the ‘Oldie Squad’, former CSK greats including Suresh Raina, Matthew Hayden, Muttiah Muralitharan, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Murali Vijay and Lakshmipathi Balaji posed together with all five of the franchise’s IPL trophies — a photograph shared by former player S. Badrinath that quickly captured hearts online.
The evening also had a forward-looking dimension, with Dhoni personally honouring rising stars Sanju Samson and Shivam Dube, alongside Under-19 World Cup winner Ayush Mhatre.
While Bravo — who claimed 140 wickets and scored over 1,000 runs across 116 matches for CSK — has since moved on to become mentor at Kolkata Knight Riders, his bond with the yellow brigade clearly remains unbreakable.
As speculation mounts that IPL 2026 could be Dhoni’s final season, he has yet to make any official retirement announcement. CSK open their campaign on March 30 against Rajasthan Royals, before taking on Punjab Kings (April 3), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (April 5) and Delhi Capitals (April 11).
