Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Ultimate Gesture of Respect for MS Dhoni After 'Battle of Generations'
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| Vaibhav Suryavanshi Touches MS Dhoni’s Feet in a Heartfelt IPL 2025 Moment |
In a historic clash during IPL 2025, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi faced off against 43-year-old MS Dhoni in a thrilling match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 20, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
The young prodigy stole the spotlight, scoring a spectacular 57 runs off 33 balls, guiding RR to a commanding six-wicket victory. Post-match, Suryavanshi's heartfelt gesture of bowing and touching Dhoni's feet went viral, earning widespread admiration for its cultural significance.
Match Highlights
- CSK's Innings: CSK posted 187/8 in 20 overs, with Ayush Mhatre (43 off 20) and Dewald Brevis (42 off 25) leading the batting.
- RR's Bowling: Akash Madhwal (3/29) and Yudhvir Singh Charak (3/47) were pivotal in restricting CSK.
- RR's Chase: RR chased the target in 17.1 overs, driven by Suryavanshi's 57 (4 fours, 4 sixes), supported by Sanju Samson (41 off 31), Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 19), and Dhruv Jurel (31* off 12), who sealed the win with a six off Matheesha Pathirana.
Suryavanshi's Performance
Suryavanshi's innings featured aggressive strokeplay against spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad, with a standout six over long-on to reach his fifty. His IPL 2025 stats include:
- Matches: 6
- Runs: 195
- Highest Score: 101* (vs Gujarat Titans, fastest IPL century by an Indian)
- Average: 32.50
- Strike Rate: 206.56
- Fours/Sixes: 14/20
The Gesture of Respect
After the match, Suryavanshi touched Dhoni's feet during the handshakes, a gesture rooted in Indian culture symbolizing respect for elders. The moment, captured on video, was widely shared on platforms like X, with posts like @FirstpostSports gaining significant traction. Dhoni's warm response added to the moment's emotional impact.
Suryavanshi's Background
From Tajpur, Bihar, Suryavanshi debuted in Ranji Trophy at 12 and became the youngest IPL player at 14 years and 23 days. Bought by RR for INR 1.1 crore, he holds records like the fastest century by an Indian in youth Tests and the second-fastest IPL century.
Team Standings
RR ended their IPL 2025 campaign with four wins from 14 matches, with Suryavanshi's performances a highlight. CSK, at the bottom of the points table, face a must-win game against Gujarat Titans to avoid finishing last.
— With inputs from IANS, Times of India, India Today, and IPLT20.com
Topics: IPL 2025, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, MS Dhoni, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings
