Watch: Etihad Airways joins hands with Chennai Super Kings, releases MS Dhoni’s jersey in gala event

Etihad Airways, a UAE-based airline, has teamed up with the five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The partnership was unveiled at a special event in Chennai, where some of the CSK players proudly showcased their new jersey adorned with the Etihad logo in the back.

However, the highlight of the day was the launch of MS Dhoni’s jersey. Captain Cool, as Dhoni is popularly known, wasn’t part of the event but his jersey was unveiled by using various technologies. LED lights and a giant screen added to the flavour and the fans in attendance whistled and cheered for his name during the launch.

Cricket's global resonance unites diverse communities, reflecting shared values of Etihad and Chennai Super Kings: Etihad Airways' Arik De

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways was previously associated with Mumbai Indians in the IPL. After joining hands with CSK, their Chief Revenue Officer, Arik De expressed his enthusiasm and stated that the new deal goes beyond sponsorship as it’s a ‘celebration of a shared ethos’.

“Today marks the start of an extraordinary journey as we welcome the Chennai Super Kings to our sports portfolio. Cricket's global resonance unites diverse communities, reflecting the shared values of Etihad and Chennai Super Kings. Our collaboration goes beyond sponsorship; it's a celebration of a shared ethos, a testament to the collective spirit of Etihad and the Chennai Super Kings,” Arik said in a statement released by Etihad Airways.

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“Cricket in India is truly incredible and the Chennai Super Kings fans really showcase exactly what it means to love and have true passion for the game in this incredible country,” he added.

Kasi Viswanathan, Chief Executive Officer of Chennai Super Kings, was delighted with the new deal and emphasized that this partnership transcends traditional sponsorship. 

“This collaboration goes beyond the boundaries of a traditional sponsorship – it's about creating an extraordinary experience for our fans and setting new standards in sports partnerships,” he said. 

On the other hand, MS Dhoni has already started practising for the forthcoming season. There were a lot of doubts regarding his availability, especially after his knee surgery but the Ranchi-born cricketer is said to be doing fine and is likely to join the CSK camp, which is expected to begin in the third or fourth week of February.