IS THIS THE END, BEAUTIFUL FRIEND? Em

After Chennai's elimination on Saturday, the cricketing world might have seen the last of Dhoni, the cricketer

AS Ravindra Jadeja missed an across-the-line swipe off the final ball of the match on Saturday night in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the entire Stadium was on its feet. From Church Street to MG Road, celebrations had already begun in the Garden City. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had won six matches on the trot to qualify for the play-offs. In the process, they might have just spoiled (did they?) one of the most anticipated cricketing farewells in the country.

Such was the jubilation of the victory that when MS Dhoni, who might just have played his last ever competitive match, led the CSK entourage onto the field for a handshake, the RCB players were nowhere to be seen. They were all scattered in different corners celebrating in their bubble, cherishing the moment. Dhoni & co. waited briefly before pointing to his captain Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead the team for the handshake. Post that, walking into the dugout. The last visual of Dhoni was him shaking hands with RCB Director of Cricket, Mo Babat, before getting into the dressing room.

No one from the outside saw him from then till the end of the post-match press conference. Is that the last the world saw of Dhoni as an active cricketer? As CSK bowling consultant Eric Simmons would later say: "Anybody who wants to speculate about his future, it's going to be crazy.