(Video) MS Dhoni turns the clock back by pulling out iconic helicopter shot for CSK from his arsenal
MS Dhoni unleashed his iconic helicopter shot, in a CSK training sessions, against Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana.

MS Dhoni pulled out his iconic helicopter shot against CSK bowler Matheesha Pathirana, in a pre-season IPL training session. (via X)
Chennai Super Kings talisman and Indian cricketing legend MS Dhoni pulled out his iconic ‘helicopter shot’ in training, ahead of the start of the new Indian Premier League season. Dhoni smacked Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana for a gob-smacking six, over his head.
MS Dhoni will make his return onto the pitch when his IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings, faces arch-rivals Mumbai Indians on the 23rd of March. The 43-year-old, despite his advancing age, is gearing up for his first match in ten months. He last featured in a cricket match in the IPL last year. He had scored 25 runs off just 13 runs in CSK’s 27-run defeat to RCB in its final group-stage encounter.
The five-time IPL winning captain, is slated to be the third oldest player to feature in the IPL. Dhoni is only behind former Australian bowling all-rounder Brad Hogg and ex-Indian spinner Pravin Tambe. MS Dhoni was retained by the Chennai Super Kings as an ‘uncapped’ player. It came as a result of BCCI’s new retention rules for former Indian players. Dhoni was retained for just INR 4 crores ahead of the 2025 Mega Auction.
At 43, the former Indian captain, looks set to feature in his 18th IPL season. During the team’s training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, better known as the ‘Chepauk’ before the IPL opener, Dhoni once again showed off his class and brilliant hitting abilities. In a practice match, he displayed that he still has the firepower to take down elite fast bowlers, and unleashed shots from his vintage cricketing era.
Batting against Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana and his unorthodox bowling, he hit a low-full toss delivery for a massive six, into the stands. He unleashed his vintage helicopter shot to send the ball over the bowler’s head, and the boundary line as well. It was truly a reminiscence of his early IPL days, when he used to deposit former Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga‘s deliveries into the stands.
Moreover, it also helped fans relive the iconic 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup winning moment. He had finished the match with a similar strike off Nuwan Kulasekara‘s delivery in the final. It remains to be seen whether MS Dhoni continues to terrorize bowlers in the upcoming season, and help CSK make it to the play-offs.
MS Dhoni goes wild in ‘Animal’ style transformation in viral e-bike ad
Former Indian cricketer and World Cup winning skipper MS Dhoni surprisingly channeled his inner ‘actor’ for a viral e-bike commerical, alongside director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Dhoni transformed himself into Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor‘s ever-popular ‘Animal’ character.

MS Dhoni once again appeared in a commercial for e-bike company, E-Motorad, showing off his spectacular off-field abilities. The 43-year-old recreated Ranbir Kapoor’s iconic ‘Animal’ movie scene, dressed in a suit, while being accompanied by several gun-wielding men. He also delivered a line from the very movie, while playfully unleashing his anger on director Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
The ad began with a humorous touch, as the CSK wicket-keeper mimicked a scene from ‘Animal’. He stepped out of a black car and lightheartedly told his teammates to get their guns. Dhoni then grabbed his e-bike from the car’s trunk. He parked it in a manner similar to Ranbir Kapoor’s character in the movie. Dhoni finally revealed that the entire act was an advertisement for an electric cycle.
Interestingly, it is not the first time that the 43-year-old has suprised fans on an E-Motorad ad. Back in 2024, he had sung a song, while riding an e-bike. Nonetheless, Dhoni has also appeared on other major commericals over the years, including ones for Gulf Oil and Orient Electric.