World Cup-winning former India captain MS Dhoni returned to the US Open with his friends and enjoyed a night of high-quality tennis action. Dhoni was seen watching Novak Djokovic’s men’s singles quarter-final against Taylor Fritz on Tuesday, 3 September. The former India skipper was seated at Arthur Ashe Stadium, soaking in the atmosphere during the late-night clash in New York.
While Novak Djokovic entertained his faithful supporters with another masterclass, MS Dhoni stole the spotlight with his striking all-denim look. The Chennai Super Kings icon cut a dapper figure in an oversized denim shirt and blue jeans. Appearing trim and well-groomed, Dhoni sported a neatly maintained beard as he watched the action alongside his friend and businessman, Hitesh Sanghvi.
Hitesh shared a video of Dhoni enjoying the contest from the stands of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
As Dhoni looked on, a man who continues to prove that age is just a number turned back the clock once again. Ageless Novak Djokovic, 38, outclassed the 27-year-old Fritz in four sets. The Serb appeared in complete command throughout the contest, extending his dominance over one of the sport’s rising stars.
Djokovic now braces for a stern test, with a semi-final showdown lined up against No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz.
Meanwhile, Dhoni has been a familiar face at major tennis tournaments such as Wimbledon and the US Open, making the most of his time away from cricket. He has also made it something of an annual ritual to spend time in the United States, indulging in golf and enjoying other sporting spectacles. A couple of years ago, Dhoni was spotted playing golf with friends, including fellow cricketer Kedar Jadhav.
A video of Dhoni playing golf with former United States president Donald Trump also went viral ahead of Trump’s return to office.
Post-retirement, Dhoni has been setting lifestyle goals for many. Since quitting international cricket in 2020, he has ensured he spends quality time with family and close friends. Between taking his enviable collection of motorbikes and cars out for a spin in his hometown and tending to his farmhouse, Dhoni has also found time to enjoy luxurious holidays.
Despite stepping away from international cricket, Dhoni continues to feature in the Indian Premier League. The 44-year-old led Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 after designated captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was sidelined through injury. Dhoni’s sharp reflexes and trademark big-hitting ability remain intact, with the veteran maintaining peak fitness for three months of competitive action each year.
Speculation about Dhoni’s IPL future has swirled for several seasons. Many believed the 2025 campaign would be his swansong, but Dhoni cooled such rumours, saying he was in no rush to decide on his playing career. After CSK’s final league match this season, he explained that he would take a call on whether to return next year only after “a couple of bike rides” in his hometown Ranchi.
At a promotional event last month, Dhoni reaffirmed his long-term association with CSK, insisting he would remain with the franchise for at least the next 10-15 years, regardless of whether he was playing.
“I have always said that there is a lot of time for me to decide, but if you are asking about coming back in a yellow jersey, I will always be in a yellow jersey. Whether I am playing or not is a different matter,” Dhoni said in August.
“Me and CSK, we are together. You know, even for the next 15-20 years,” he added.
Dhoni has also been linked with a potential return to the national set-up in a mentoring capacity at the T20 World Cup next year. He previously served as India’s team mentor during their disappointing 2021 campaign, and it remains to be seen whether he will reprise that role.
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