Wankhede Stadium has a special place in my heart: MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni recapped his experiences playing cricket in India, namely at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, in a recent interview. He also expressed his gratitude to the fans for their amazing help over the previous several years.

Dhoni said he had nothing of the sort when asked about his “second favourite venue” outside of the Chennai Super Kings’ home stadium, MA Chidambaram Stadium, during the same interview. He did admit, though, that he had a “soft corner” for Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium and the rest of the city.

We get the same kind of reception practically everywhere, so I wouldn’t say I have a second favorite. My affection for Mumbai stems from the fact that we returned here after winning the T20 World Cup in 2007 and were welcomed with open arms. “The 2011 final has a special place in my heart because it was here as well and I have many memories of it,” Dhoni stated in an interview with JioHotstar.

“Besides that, the crowd is fantastic, loud, and the noise stays inside the stadium even if you’re playing in Bangalore. There is a large capacity crowd in Kolkata, and Ahmedabad is no exception. So, it’s really hard to decide who to choose. Because they give it their all, they cheer for the teams and cricket. Chepauk stands out due to their loudness when using the whistle,” he continued.

The cornerstone of the Men in Yellow from the IPL’s beginning has been MS Dhoni.

As captain, he has led the team to five championships. Dhoni was one of the five players retained by CSK before to the November 2024 mega auction, and he is currently playing as a “uncapped player” in the IPL 2025.

In 2011, Dhoni won Player of the Match for his undefeated 91-run knock off 79 deliveries in the final of the Cricket World Cup, one of his most memorable performances at the Wankhede. A lasting impression on Indian cricket’s golden history is his game-winning maximum over long-on.