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MS Dhoni gave Chennai Super Kings fans an emotional moment at Chepauk on Monday despite the team suffering a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Though the five-time champions ended on the losing side, supporters were delighted to see Dhoni make a rare appearance on the field.

The 44-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has missed the entire season due to injury, disappointing fans who had hoped to see him in action. With CSK playing their final home game of the season, Dhoni joined the squad for the team photograph and later walked around the ground to thank supporters for their continued backing.

The evening also saw a reunion between Dhoni and former India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina, who was present at the venue as part of the broadcast team. The duo played a major role in Chennai Super Kings winning four IPL titles over the years.

As speculation continues over whether Dhoni could return for the final game or even feature in the Indian Premier League 2027 season, Raina shared details of a conversation he recently had with the former CSK captain.

"I told him 'you have given IPL 2026 a missed call. It won't count. You have to come back next year'. He said 'my body is a little weak' - I said 'we are not believing anything. You have to play next year'. It's his personal call. I think he is positive. The team is also gelling well again," Raina said on Star Sports.

Dhoni reportedly admitted that his body is not in the same condition as before, making a return next season a difficult decision.

Speaking after the match, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said the decision regarding Dhoni’s future would be taken by the team management.

"It's a choice for the management. I know there has been a lot of talk about it. MS (Dhoni) has been around a lot this year, which is very important for the team, for young players in continuity, so he's been a big part. He hasn't played, but he's still had a big influence on the team.

"There's a lot of good things we've done. We've introduced some new players that will hopefully be generation players for CSK. But I know we are judged on results, that's fair. So yeah, that's a management call, not mine," Fleming said.