CSK captain’s reaction steals the spotlight when Vaibhav Suyavanshi touches MS Dhoni’s feet instead of shaking his hand

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was born in Samastipur, Bihar, just two years after MS Dhoni lifted his first IPL trophy. Samastipur, not far from Dhoni’s hometown of Ranchi, was once part of the same state as Ranchi – undivided Bihar. Yet, one doesn’t need to share a state to look up to Dhoni. Dhoni is an idol and a role model for young Suryavanshi, as well as for many other aspiring cricket players in India. It’s no exaggeration to call Dhoni a father figure in Suryavanshi’s cricketing journey.

This admiration was evident after the Chennai Super Kings versus Rajasthan Royals clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Following RR’s six-wicket win in their final game of a tough season, the players exchanged handshakes. When Suryavanshi reached Dhoni, he bent down to touch the CSK legend’s feet with one hand while Dhoni caught his other hand with a warm, sheepish smile. The gesture, captured in photos and videos, quickly went viral, reflecting the emotional impact of the moment.

Dhoni made a remarkable performance with the bat on the day that Suryavanshi paid respect to him. The 14-year-old prodigy scored a composed 57 runs off 33 balls, playing a key role in RR’s successful chase of 188. His innings was marked by calculated aggression, maturity beyond his years, and fearlessness against seasoned bowlers. He took the attack to Ravindra Jadeja, launching him for two sixes, and brought up his fifty with another towering shot off Noor Ahmad.

Opening the chase, Yashasvi Jaiswal gave RR a rapid start with a 36-run knock before being dismissed by Anshul Kamboj. Suryavanshi then forged a 98-run partnership with skipper Sanju Samson, who contributed 41 runs and let the youngster take center stage. After their dismissals, followed by Riyan Parag’s exit, RR briefly wobbled with 30 runs needed off 26 balls. But Dhruv Jurel’s unbeaten 31 and Shimron Hetmyer’s 12 guided the Royals to victory.

Earlier in the match, CSK’s Ayush Mhatre impressed again with a blistering 43 off 20 balls, pushing CSK to a total of 187 for eight. Despite a disappointing season overall, RR’s final win – led by the emergence of a young star – brought a silver lining to their campaign.