'Thala absent for a reason': CSK players visit Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi ahead of clash against LSG; fans miss MS Dhoni in viral video
Ahead of the mega clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), CSK players were spotted at the Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya to seek blessings. Fans discuss the absence of MS Dhoni in the viral video.
Cricket is a game of hard work, luck, and a touch of divine blessing. Well, players of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were recently spotted in Ayodhya taking blessings at lord Hanuman's temple just ahead of the 30th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 14, 2025.
Ahead of the fixtures, the players visited the famous Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Sunday. Meanwhile, this season, CSK is already going through a lot with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been ruled out of IPL due to a hairline elbow fracture, and all-rounder Shreyas Gopal was seen offering prayers at the temple.
This season in IPL 2025, CSK has lost four consecutive games, out of which they have lost three in M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, for the first time in the history of the league.
Credit: X
Ruturaj Gaikwad seeks blessings for his team, CSK
Despite Gaikwad's injury and MS Dhoni's return to his captaincy duty again, the lack of CSK didn't stop them from losing the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Amid this, Gaikwad was spotted seeking blessings at a temple on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. A video shared by news agency ANI is quickly going viral on social media. In the video, all players are seen entering the temple, while Gaikwad was accompanied by security guards and other visitors in the temple.
Ruturaj Gaikwad & CSK players at Hanuman Garhi Temple for blessings. ? pic.twitter.com/PsX5w19SPZ
¡ª Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 13, 2025
Fans query about MS Dhoni's absence from the temple with team
Well, as soon as the clip went viral and fans did not find Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the video, they questioned, 'Thala absent for a reason?'
Thala absent for a reason.
¡ª Monster ? (@HitmanReign) April 13, 2025
Another said, "Yahan bhi dhoni nahi gya hoga."
Yahan bhi dhoni nahi gya hoga.
¡ª Annie¡ă Sharma (@Hydrogensharma) April 13, 2025
"Yaha pe bhi thala nai ayaa ?...Thala for a reason ?????"
Yaha pe bhi thala nai ayaa ?...
¡ª GKPeDia !!!?????!!! (@GKPeDia27) April 13, 2025
Thala for a reason ?????
Was CSK's midseason captaincy shift helpful?
The IPL 2025 season has not been the same for CSK. After consecutive losses, the team has suffered a lot this year. Most importantly, when Gaikwad was injured, MS Dhoni stepped into the lead position, but was it helpful?
Well, CSK struggled under Jadeja's leadership in 2022, and Dhoni took over the reins midway. He also later returned to their fifth IPL title in 2023.
This time, the captaincy is back to the 'Captain Cool,' and fans can't wait to see what happens next.
Sneha is a dedicated writer with a passion for storytelling that enthrals and inspires the readers. With a background in Health and Wellness, she brings a unique perspective to every narrative. As a journalist, she aims to find solutions with authenticity and credibility.
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