CSK vs MI | Twitter in splits as skipper Ruturaj takes cheeky dig at 'young wicketkeeper' Dhoni

The build up to every IPL season in recent memory has been dominated by one question : will this finally be the year where MS Dhoni steps on a cricket field

The build up to every IPL season in recent memory has been dominated by one question : will this finally be the year where MS Dhoni steps on a cricket field for the final time in his professional career.

CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad subtly let the world know in Chennai he is well in on the joke.

The Whistle Podu Army reserved a special welcome as always for their returning heroes when Chennai Super Kings took to the field for the first time in IPL 2025 at the M Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad made his way to the middle alongwith stand-in Mumbai Indians skipper and the ever enigmatic Ravi Shastri for the toss amidst raucous applause, which only got louder when he won the coin flip and opted to bowl first. While the cheering injected great energy into proceedings, it also allowed the Chennai skipper a sly opportunity to slip a cheeky joke into his comments.

When asked by Shastri how the team was feeling ahead of the season opener, Gaikwad revealed all the team's players had been present since day one of their pre-season training camp, making for good preparation. However, before Shastri could move on, the Maharashtra batter added, "Our young wicketkeeper has also been available since the first day," referring to the 43-year-old MS Dhoni who is into his 18th IPL season and in the 26th year of his professional career.

Twitterati was chuffed at the unexpected dose of humour and quickly took to social media to express their thoughts.