In a moment destined to be remembered in IPL history, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi was seen touching the feet of 43-year-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni after Rajasthan Royals pulled off a rare run chase against Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. The gesture has now gone viral, with fans comparing it to a memorable scene from the 2013 film?Raanjhanaa where Dhanush and a young boy cross paths and lock eyes, each seeing the other as a version of themselves. In that same way, Dhoni felt like a reflection of India¡¯s cricketing past, while Vaibhav stood as a glimpse of its future, marking the smooth generational shift.
The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who grabbed headlines last month with a blazing 35-ball century, continued his dream run by smashing 57 off 33 balls as Rajasthan chased down 188 with 17 balls to spare in New Delhi.
Making his IPL debut in style, Suryavanshi announced his arrival by launching his very first ball for six. His knock, packed with four fours and four sixes, set the tone for the chase and helped RR close out their otherwise forgettable season with a solid six-wicket win over CSK.
After the match, as the RR players lined up to shake hands with the CSK squad, Suryavanshi did something that instantly tugged at fans¡¯ hearts. When it was his turn to greet MS Dhoni, he bent down and touched the legend¡¯s feet with one hand, while Dhoni, smiling shyly, held the other. The moment was pure and powerful¡ªand the photos and videos of it spread across the internet within minutes.
The heartfelt moment was shared by the IPL's official Instagram account and reshared by the RR batter himself.
https://x.com/GemsOfCricket/status/1924888869016895498
The heartwarming gesture quickly caught everyone¡¯s attention, with many calling it a proud reminder of Indian values where showing respect to elders still holds meaning, even in moments of personal glory. Fans were genuinely moved to see a young player like Vaibhav Suryavanshi staying grounded despite his big debut.
One user wrote, "Smoothly, the generation has shifted. We are old now." Another added, "The youngest worshipping the oldest in IPL." The praise kept pouring in: "Vaibhav Suryavanshi touching Thala¡¯s feet ¡ª a beautiful gesture of respect. And to top it off, MS Dhoni praised his batting. Only the IPL can give us moments like this!"
Some called him a ¡°cultured boy from Bihar,¡± while others said, ¡°the little one has truly earned his place.¡± For many, it was more than just a cricketing moment¡ªit was a passing of the torch.
Meanwhile, on the IPL front, both the Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings were already out of the playoff race heading into the match. With the win, Rajasthan managed to stay above bottom-placed Chennai in the 10-team table, finishing with four wins from 14 matches.
Chennai, led by 43-year-old MS Dhoni, still have one game left in their league campaign.
As it stands, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings have secured their spots in the playoffs. The final spot is still up for grabs, with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals battling it out to make the cut.
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