MS Dhoni, India‘s T20 World Cup-winning champion from 2007, presented mementoes to Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Ayush Mhatre, three of recent World Cup winners who are part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) squad.
Dhoni did the honours on behalf of CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium where the franchise had organised a fan event ahead of IPL 2026.
World champions honoured by the man himself#Roar26 #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/eiy8oKoQZQ
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 22, 2026
Samson was named the Player of the Series after the final against New Zealand in the recent T20 World Cup, where he finished with 321 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 199.37. Dube also impressed with the bat in the tournament, making 235 runs in eight innings, while also picking up five wickets.
Mhatre was the captain of India’s Under -19 World Cup-winning squad that beat England in the final in February. Already a CSK star after his exploits in the 2025 season, he scored 214 runs in seven innings at the World Cup, including a half-century in the final.
Samson was traded from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2026 season, while Dube has been part of CSK since 2022. Mhatre meanwhile came in as replacement for the injured Ruturaj Gaikwad last season.