Following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams have shown solidarity by wearing black bands in remembrance of the victims. However, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and their captain, MS Dhoni, faced criticism for not participating in this gesture.

Other teams, including Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB, and Rajasthan Royals, wore black bands in their matches following the attack. These teams also observed a minute of silence in tribute to those killed in the attack. In contrast, CSK players did not wear black bands during their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Dhoni did not make any public statement regarding the incident, leading to a backlash from fans and social media users.

While Dhoni is known for his minimal social media presence, having not posted anything on Twitter for quite some time, his silence on such a tragic event did not go unnoticed. MS Dhoni holds the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army, and in 2015, he even carried out patrol and guard duties in Kashmir, further raising expectations of his response to the attack.

The attack in Pahalgam targeted mostly tourists, with many being killed based on their religious identity. Following the attack, the Indian government took a strong stand, including suspending water flow from the Indus River as part of its response to Pakistan.