'Gracia ke papa': Sakshi Dhoni's shout for Suresh Raina lights up CSK event - WATCH

Chennai, 24 March 2026 — The roar that greeted Suresh Raina at Chepauk Stadium on Sunday evening was nothing new for the man universally dubbed Mr IPL, but the loudest voice in the stands came from an unexpected quarter: Sakshi Dhoni. As the 38-year-old walked up to receive his induction into Chennai Super Kings’ inaugural Hall of Fame, MS Dhoni’s wife leapt to her feet and shouted, “Gracia ke papa,” sending the packed crowd into delighted laughter and instantly lighting up social-media feeds.

The moment, captured on the giant screen and replayed across the stadium, underlined the bond between the Dhoni and Raina families. Raina’s daughter Gracia, born in 2016, and son Rio, born in 2020, have grown up around the CSK dressing room, making the franchise almost an extended family for the Uttar Pradesh left-hander.

Raina's numbers speak for themselves: 205 IPL appearances, 5,528 runs at an average of 32.51, one century and 39 half-centuries. More importantly, he was central to four of CSK’s five title runs—2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021—all masterminded from behind the stumps by Dhoni. The 2023 triumph, completed without Raina in the squad, still saw the veteran batsman in the stands, cheering every boundary.

Sunday’s ceremony, held on the eve of IPL 2026, was designed to celebrate that legacy. Fireworks crackled above the Marina end as Raina, clad in the customary yellow, held aloft the Hall of Fame plaque. Fans chanted “Chinna Thala, Chinna Thala,” the affectionate counterpoint to Dhoni’s “Thala” moniker, while Sakshi’s spontaneous outburst provided the evening’s most endearing footnote.

CSK open their latest campaign against Rajasthan Royals on 30 March at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, but for one night the focus stayed firmly on the past—and on a little girl’s father who helped turn CSK into cricketing royalty.