CSK’s ‘Roar 26’: Nostalgia, Dhoni buzz and an AR Rahman concert light up Chepauk before IPL 2026

Ready for IPL 2026? The Chennai Super Kings’ 'Roar 26' event delivered several Dhoni moments, fan frenzy and an energetic AR Rahman concert.

Chepauk was wrapped in a cricketing time capsule – one where the past and the present met.

The hallowed MA Chidambaram cricket ground has seen thrilling sporting clashes, thanks to it hosting some great India and Chennai Super Kings matches. But Sunday evening was about something different: celebrating what the men in yellow have meant to Chennaiites over the years.

It was, in many ways, a pat on the back for the 20,000 people assembled to witness ‘Roar 26’. A sea of yellow engulfed Chepauk as passionate fans brought out the whistles — not just for this curtain raiser for the upcoming IPL 2026, but also for a musical concert by AR Rahman. Here, key highlights from the ‘Roar 26’ event, held at Chepauk on Sunday evening:

CSK’s MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo at ‘Roar 2026’ event | Photo Credit: RAGU R

Nostalgia stirred

Other cities have cricket franchises. Chennai has an emotion — the Chennai Super Kings. One to which every player returns, years after moving away from cricket, and some even a decade after moving on to other franchises. That probably explains why players like Mutthiah Muralidharan, Joginder Sharma, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Dwayne Bravo and Michael Hussey — few of the names that have contributed significantly to the success of the team over the years — lined up to have a friendly cricketing clash with the current CSK squad.