Overview

• Dhoni inaugurated the new facility in Madurai on Thursday, drawing large crowds at the airport and at the ground.
• He was driven onto the field on a red carpet with fireworks, taken around the venue in a buggy, and faced a few balls on the pitch.
• A young attendee touched Dhoni’s feet during the ceremony, a gesture captured on video that quickly went viral.
• The stadium was developed by the Velammal Education Trust in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, with an estimated build cost of ₹325 crore.
• Current seating is about 7,300, with plans announced to expand capacity to 20,000, and social media speculation about Dhoni’s IPL 2026 role, including a photo in a Mumbai Indians jersey, remains unconfirmed.