MS Dhoni (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: As speculation swirls around MS Dhoni’s IPL future, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has offered a heartfelt reflection on the aura that still surrounds the legendary Chennai Super Kings skipper.Speaking to Star Sports, Samson recalled the electrifying moment when Dhoni stepped out to bat at the Chepauk: “Last time, when I was keeping and he came out to bat in Chennai, I couldn’t hear a thing. It felt like I needed to cover my ears. Even when 40 runs are needed in 2 overs, it still feels like it’s possible.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The admiration didn’t stop there. Samson admitted that the ‘Dhoni effect’ transcends venues, even when CSK plays in Jaipur.“You can’t see or hear anything else when we face CSK in Chennai. And even when they come to Jaipur, it’s unbelievable. Honestly, it shouldn’t be like that in Jaipur, yaar!” he said, laughing.“It’s humbling to witness such a great idol of the game. You get inspired. You get motivated.”As CSK prepare for their final match of the 2025 season against RR at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, the spotlight is firmly on Dhoni—possibly playing his last IPL game, though head coach Stephen Fleming has remained tight-lipped.“I don’t know,” Fleming said when asked directly about Dhoni’s future.

For CSK, the season has been underwhelming, but the emergence of young talents like Ayush Mhatre and Shaik Rasheed offers a glimpse into what a post-Dhoni era might look like.For Rajasthan Royals, it’s been a campaign of missed opportunities and questionable auction calls, with the team faltering in key moments. But amid the fading hopes, Samson’s words serve as a reminder: the Dhoni phenomenon is still alive, still magical—and still capable of drowning out even the keeper’s own thoughts.