Watch: Danny Morrison And MS Dhoni Communicate Through Sign Language, Amidst Deafening Fanfare

MS Dhoni is nearing the end of his career, and many believe that the current edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be his last.

IPL

The Arun Jaitley Stadium buzzed with excitement as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced off against the Delhi Capitals in a crucial IPL 2023 match. The stadium was awash with yellow, as ardent fans of MS Dhoni painted the stands in tribute to their beloved captain. The atmosphere reached a crescendo as Dhoni won the toss on May 20, prompting the crowd to erupt into chants of "Dhoni, Dhoni."

Despite the deafening roar, Dhoni announced that CSK would bat first. However, the New Zealand commentator Danny Morrison found it impossible to hear Dhoni's decision amidst the overwhelming crowd noise. Employing a clever improvisation, Morrison resorted to sign language, gesturing to Dhoni to confirm his choice. Dhoni, understanding the situation, replied with hand signals, ensuring his decision was conveyed.

_ Toss Update _@ChennaiIPL win the toss and elect to bat first against @DelhiCapitals.

Follow the match __ https://t.co/ESWjX1m8WD #TATAIPL | #DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/b13K9cKoyV — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 20, 2023

"We will bat first. I think that is what we are here for. We are trying to win each and every game since the beginning. We are playing with the same XI. We don't make many changes, we are happy with the balanced side we have. Day game and heat are one of the factors and it slows down as the match progresses, hence we are batting first. I think we are trying to do that, we tell the youngsters as well. We have good games and bad games as well. We shouldn't have the hangover and take it to the next game, so hence we need to get up fresh and ready for the next one," Dhoni explained his decision after winning the toss.

Speculation loomed over this potentially being Dhoni's final IPL season. While the seasoned cricketer had not made any definitive statements, his immense popularity was evident at every venue where CSK played this year. As the IPL season neared its end, Dhoni's future remained uncertain.

Following CSK's last league match at Chepauk, Dhoni led his team on a remarkable lap of honor. During this spectacle, he distributed jerseys and tennis balls to the crowd, indicating that it could potentially be his farewell appearance.

CSK found themselves in a favorable position to qualify for the playoffs. Currently occupying second place in the standings with 15 points from 13 games, their playoff hopes hinged on the outcome of their final league match against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. A victory in this crucial encounter would secure their advancement to the next round. However, if CSK were to falter, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians would have a golden opportunity to surpass them in the standings.