The 2023 Indian Premier League kicked off in style with a glittering opening ceremony at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India's leading playback singer Arijit Singh opened the ceremony and while his performance enchanted the crowd at the venue, the fans emerged into a maddening roar as Mahendra Singh Dhoni was shown enjoying Arijit's performance at the dugout. Dhoni could be seen grooving to singer's tunes as he donned the CSK kit, and thus, all but confirming his appearance in the opener against Gujarat Titans.
There were speculations over Dhoni's availability in the match on Friday after it was reported that he had a niggle; the CSK captain didn't bat during the practice session on Thursday.
Watch as Dhoni was shown on the giant screen during Arijit's performance:
The 2023 season of the league is widely expected to be MS Dhoni's last; however, the CSK skipper is yet to make a confirmation on the same. Many former cricketers including Dhoni's former teammate Shane Watson, however, believe that the wicketkeeper-batter could play for CSK for 2-3 years more.
{{/usCountry}}The 2023 season of the league is widely expected to be MS Dhoni's last; however, the CSK skipper is yet to make a confirmation on the same. Many former cricketers including Dhoni's former teammate Shane Watson, however, believe that the wicketkeeper-batter could play for CSK for 2-3 years more.
{{/usCountry}}The Chennai Super Kings will be aiming for a strong return to form in the 2023 edition after a forgettable outing last year. The CSK finished ninth in the 2022 season with only four wins in 14 matches.
On the other side is Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya, who pushed into superstardom after leading the franchise to the title in their debut season. Pandya has also led India to wins at the international level in the shortest format and is making a case for himself as a future white-ball skipper.
Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans will be facing a huge weight of expectations after clinching the title in their debut season. To prove that their title win was not a fluke, they would have to start this season well against the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings.