Legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at the airport upon his arrival in Madurai on Thursday, October 9. He had come to the city to inaugurate the newly constructed stadium. Ahead of the event, throngs of fans gathered outside Madurai airport, eager to catch a glimpse of the cricketing icon.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Dhoni made his way out, receiving a loud and energetic welcome while being escorted by officials and police personnel. The former skipper appeared in casual attire, sporting a black t-shirt, jeans, and sunglasses. You can watch the video here:
Big roar for MS Dhoni in Madurai International Cricket Stadium ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hS0S9GrOHj
— ` (@WorshipDhoni) October 9, 2025
MS DHONI INAUGURATED THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET STADIUM IN MADURAI. 💛 pic.twitter.com/wZgQvF7j8u
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 9, 2025
The newly built venue in Madurai has been named Velammal Cricket Stadium. According to The Times of India, the stadium was developed through a collaboration between the Velammal Education Trust and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), at an estimated cost of ₹325 crores.
Currently, the stadium can accommodate 7,300 spectators, with plans to expand its capacity to 20,000 in the future. It is expected to host major domestic events, including the Ranji Trophy and the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
Is MS Dhoni Set To Play In IPL 2026?
Fans in Tamil Nadu have a deep affection for their Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star, MS Dhoni. While they got a chance to see the former CSK captain in Madurai, they are eager to watch him don the yellow jersey again in IPL 2026. Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Dhoni was retained for ₹4 crore under the ‘uncapped player’ category.
He even led the team when captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined due to injury early in the season. CSK, however, had a disappointing campaign, finishing at the bottom of the table. Dhoni scored 196 runs in 13 innings, averaging 24.50 with a strike rate of 135.17. While his participation in next season remains unconfirmed, fans are keenly waiting to see if he will return for CSK in IPL 2026.
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