9.23 pm CSK end on 217 for 7, and yet somehow their last 10 overs were slower than their first 10. The home crowd certainly got their money's worth for this innings. Can LSG chase this down? Stay tuned for the start of the chase.

CSK opener Devon Conway: "I think it was a great start for us tonight. The way Rutu played in that first six was pretty special and he took the pressure off me. He's sneaky strong. He times the ball and holds his shape really well, and he uses good bats. I think the slower ball into the wicket might be a good option for us, pace off and being unpredictable. I also felt for the spinners, some skidded on and some held up. It's a very special feeling [at Chepauk]. When I got here earlier, the crowd was special. They were pretty loud and it just creates a great atmosphere. Seeing MS Dhoni walk out there and do what he did and hearing the crowd is pretty special so it's good to be playing here in front of our fans. He said to go out, express yourself, enjoy, have fun and entertain."

For the IPL stats mavens out there, Dhoni completed 5,000 career IPL runs in his brief but belligerent innings.

Abhisek daga: "The way the entire chennai dressing room celebrated after dhoni hit the second six was just goosebumps written all over it... fantastic stuff..."

Ketan: "Remind me.. Why did this guy retire?"

"C-S-K! C-S-K!" Chant breaks out as Santner arrives.

Abhilash: "GRAND DADDY of DOG is here! WOOOF!! WOOFF!"

Enormous roars at the fall of the wicket. It's not often that you hear home fans going out of their minds when one of their own players gets out. But it's because MS Dhoni is striding to the crease. The fans are positively rabid right now going berserk for Thala.

Wood to bowl the last over. But not before Ayush Badoni is signaled by the umpire to be brought on the field as an Impact Player in place of Avesh Khan.

Vishal: "Anything below two (hound)red from here is unacceptable!"

Thakur back for the 19th around the wicket.

What MS Dhoni is to Chennai is what Ivan Vukomanovic is becoming to Kerala. It's this fervent support that has seen the Kerala Blasters coach give one of the all-time great non-apologetic apologies after one of the most controversial moments Indian sport has seen in recent times.

Suvan: "CSK management will really be in the doghouse if Dhoni doesn't get an over to bat on his homecoming!"

Shyam: "CSK is looking dane-gerous tonight!"

Jadeja arrives at No. 7 with Wood set to return to the attack. Jadeja will begin the over off strike though after Stokes fell on the last ball of the 17th.

Arun: "Can anyone explain CSK's almost dogmatic stubbornness to hide Dhoni for as long as possible!"

Avesh is back, over the wicket.