IPL 2026: Super Kings of the past and present light up Chepauk in a glitzy occasion

Chennai Super Kings celebrate IPL 2026 with a star-studded fan event, honoring past legends and welcoming new talents.

It was a sweltering day in the city with the mercury rising to uncomfortable levels. However, it wasn’t enough to deter nearly 23,000 passionate fans from raising the fever pitch at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (March 22, 2026) as they welcomed the old and current stars of the Chennai Super Kings in a glitzy event.

The five-time champion took a trip down memory lane and set the ball rolling for the 2026 season of the IPL with a massive fan event titled ‘Roar 2026.’

Alongside the current squad, 14 former players who sported the yellow jersey rekindled fond memories of the franchise’s early years and the IPL, and were given a rapturous welcome.

Parthiv Patel, L. Balaji, Shadab Jakati, Harbhajan Singh, Joginder Sharma, S. Anirudha, S. Badrinath, M. Vijay, Muttiah Muralitharan, Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo and Suresh Raina were the ‘OGs’ present.

The biggest roar, unsurprisingly, was reserved for M.S. Dhoni, the one person who remains the fulcrum of the side and the bridge between the past and present.

While the scene of Dhoni receiving a thunderous reception is par for the course at Chepauk, Sunday offered a glimpse of what could unfold this year when another wicket-keeper batter and currently the toast of the nation walks on this hallowed turf sporting the yellow jersey. Fans got their first glimpse of Sanju Samson, CSK’s newest recruit at this venue, and the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup, who promised to return the IPL trophy to Chennai.