In 2021, after guiding Chennai Super Kings to a fourth IPL title, M.S. Dhoni, speaking at a celebration event in the city, remarked, “Hopefully, my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it’s next year or in five years, we don’t really know.”

Two years later, in 2023, after lifting the IPL trophy for a record-equalling fifth time in Ahmedabad, Dhoni, while acknowledging it would be good to go out on a high, felt he had to work hard to come back and say thank you to the fans.

Though the last two years haven’t gone to script for CSK, Dhoni featured in all games. However, so far this year, the former skipper has yet to take the field as he nurses a calf injury. While he has been a constant feature during practice sessions at Chepauk, he has not been travelling for most away fixtures and hasn’t been at the ground on match days.

Now, on the eve of CSK’s final home match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, speculation over whether Dhoni will answer the fans’ prayers by striding onto the field for the first time this campaign has reached fever pitch.

On Sunday, the 44-year-old batted for nearly 30 minutes. He faced the net bowlers and took some throwdowns. The focus was on power-hitting, even occasionally stepping down to hit the spinners.

Compared to previous match-eve sessions in Chennai, when he preferred to take mostly throwdowns, Dhoni faced off against bowlers for a sustained period on Sunday.

Could it be an indication that fans could finally see their beloved in action, and, more importantly, that it could be the last dance?