MS Dhoni steals limelight with his presence in Shah Rukh Khan's birthday party

Former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni was in Mumbai to join friend and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's birthday celebration on the same day when team India clashed with Sri Lanka in an ODI World Cup match, not too far from Dhoni's location.

Surprisingly, Dhoni was spotted solo at the event, and pictures with Fauzia Adeel Butt, Producer & CEO of FAB Entertainment, revealed that his wife, Sakshi Dhoni, was notably absent. Dhoni sported an elegant black blazer and shirt for the occasion.

In addition to MS Dhoni, several Bollywood celebrities including Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Alia Bhatt graced SRK's birthday celebration. The Chennai Super Kings captain shares a close camaraderie with the Bollywood superstar. As for Dhoni, he currently finds himself in the spotlight once again as he gears up for yet another IPL season with CSK. He has recently undergone knee surgery and looks keen to participate in the next season of IPL, in his own words “a gift from my side for the fans.”

I am ready to sell my pyjamas to buy Dhoni in IPL auctions: Shah Rukh Khan

Every IPL team owner aspires to have a captain like Dhoni leading their franchise. Yet, the charismatic CSK skipper's availability in player auctions has been a rarity. In 2008, prior to the inaugural season, former India wicketkeeper graced the auction, and CSK secured his services for a groundbreaking $1.5 million, the highest bid for any player at the time. Notably, since that landmark acquisition, he has remained conspicuously absent from subsequent IPL auction.

Before the 2018 IPL auction, the Ranchi-born cricketer was poised to make a comeback to CSK, following two seasons with Pune. It was during this period that Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan expressed a strong desire to have him join KKR in the IPL, even jesting that he'd go to great lengths, even selling his own pajamas, to make it happen.

"Yaar main toh usko apna pajama bech ke bhi kharid lun, wo aaye toh auction mein. (Brother, I can even sell my pants to buy Dhoni. He has to come for the auction for that)," SRK was quoted as saying by Sportswallah.