Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter Urvil Patel opened up about how he persuaded his family to meet team captain MS Dhoni during the IPL 2025 season. He referred to it as a once-in-a-lifetime moment when he and Dhoni were photographed together, both sporting the same jersey, with his family by his side.

Urvil also discussed the pressure he faced ahead of his IPL debut, describing how his fortunes shifted dramatically from being unsold at the auction to being called up as a replacement player. He stepped in for the injured Vansh Bedi midway through the IPL 2025 campaign.

“My parents are usually reluctant to watch me play. I told my father that whether you come to the match or not, I really want you to meet Mahi bhai. So, my father made a special effort to attend the match because of him. He had a great time, especially with families around. There was an introduction, and everyone enjoyed it. In the end, we met Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) at the hotel, and it was a memorable moment for all of us. I also wanted a photo of my family with Mahi bhai, and it was even more special as we got to take it together in a yellow jersey,” he said.

“Initially, I expected a huge crowd and felt there would be pressure. But for some reason, when I made my debut, I didn’t think about any of that. It felt like I was playing a domestic game. The only thought on my mind was that I had nothing to lose this year. In a way, I was completely blank,” he added.

Urvil made history by recording the fastest T20 century by an Indian player, scoring a 28-ball hundred against Tripura in 2024. On his IPL debut, he made an immediate impact, scoring 31 runs off just 11 balls for CSK against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).