[WATCH] MS Dhoni Carries Forward Deori Maa Temple Ritual Ahead Of IPL 2026

Chennai Super Kings stalwart MS Dhoni visited the Deori Mandir in Diuri village, Jharkhand, on Friday, February 27. The seasoned campaigner sought blessings as he gets set to make his comeback in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhoni has consistently followed the custom of praying at the 700-year-old temple ahead of major cricketing events.

He had also offered prayers at the temple ahead of IPL 2025. The revered site is known for its Solah Bhuji Devi, the 16-armed form of Goddess Durga. A video capturing Dhoni’s visit to the historic temple was shared by one of his fan pages on social media. You can watch the video here:

MS Dhoni visited the Deori Maa temple today, as he does every year ahead of the IPL season.

– It's time for IPL 2026. pic.twitter.com/QPAszZH92R

— ` (@WorshipDhoni) February 27, 2026

Chennai retained MS Dhoni for ₹4 crore as an uncapped player before the IPL 2025 mega auction under the updated retention guidelines. He later resumed captaincy of CSK after regular skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined with an elbow injury following the first five games of the season.

The five-time champions had a forgettable campaign, ending at the bottom of the points table for the first time in the tournament’s history and collecting the wooden spoon. They managed just four victories while suffering 10 defeats. Dhoni scored 196 runs in 13 innings, maintaining a strike rate of 135.17.

MS Dhoni Gears Up In Ranchi Ahead Of IPL 2026

MS Dhoni was recently seen working hard in the nets ahead of the IPL 2026. A video shared on social media showed the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter practicing in Ranchi. The 44-year-old has kicked off his training for the forthcoming edition. Watch the video of Dhoni’s batting:

🚨MS Dhoni is working hard during a practice session in Ranchi ahead of IPL 2026.

Dhoni looks in great touch in the nets. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kv8JTLRSR8

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 26, 2026

MS Dhoni remains the most-capped cricketer in IPL history, having featured in 278 matches and scoring 5,439 runs. He also tops the chart for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the tournament, accounting for 154 catches and 47 stumpings.

Meanwhile, the Chennai-based franchise bolstered their lineup by adding nine players at the IPL 2026 auction. The team splurged on uncapped Indian talent, signing Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer for ₹14.20 crore each, making them the costliest uncapped players ever in the league.

In addition, they brought in leg-spinner Rahul Chahar for ₹5 crore and batter Sarfaraz Khan for ₹75 lakh. Their overseas recruits at the mini-auction featured West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein for ₹2 crore and New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry for ₹2 crore.

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