[WATCH]- Hardik Pandya Shares Warm Moment With MS Dhoni Ahead Of MI Clash

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya shared a warm and memorable moment with Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni during a training session at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

During practice, Pandya noticed Dhoni across the ground and, in a video that quickly went viral, the MI skipper walked straight towards him, greeting the iconic “Thala” with a broad smile and a long, respectful hug.

Watch the video here: 

HP 🫂 MAHI pic.twitter.com/QFxVlsXzIL

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 1, 2026

Thala offers batting advice

Beyond the initial exchange, the video captured MS Dhoni sharing technical guidance with Hardik Pandya. The former India captain was seen pointing towards the crease and explaining bat swing, offering a brief lesson in finishing skills.

Despite being on opposing sides, Dhoni’s readiness to guide Pandya reflects the strong bond they have shared since his early days in the Indian setup. Meanwhile, both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, once dominant forces, are currently lagging in the playoff race.

In their previous meeting in Mumbai, CSK, powered by a century from Sanju Samson, handed MI a heavy 103-run defeat.

MI vs CSK IPL 2026 Performance

Chennai Super Kings have had a slightly better campaign, winning 3 of 8 matches (6 points) and staying in the playoff race despite inconsistency. In contrast, Mumbai Indians have struggled, managing just 2 wins in 8 games (4 points) and sitting near the bottom of the table. Both teams have lacked consistency, but CSK remain better placed than MI in IPL 2026.

Predicted Playing XI Of Both Teams

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Kartik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh

Mumbai Indians Playing XI: Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar

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