‘Learn from Mahi bhai’ - Sarfaraz Khan told to ‘Focus on the process’ ahead of CSK vs PBKS clash in IPL 2026
Sarfaraz Khan joined CSK at the 2026 mini-auction for INR 75 lakh after an impressive domestic form, including India’s fastest List A fifty.
The IPL 2026 season is already delivering thrills on the field, but an emotional family moment off it has captured hearts across the cricket world. Ahead of the much-awaited clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, a viral video showcased a touching father-son bond that perfectly blended cricket passion with family love.
Heart-warming family moment steals the spotlight
In a heartfelt scene, Sarfaraz Khan gifted his personalised CSK jersey to his father, Naushad Khan. The proud dad was seen smiling as he slipped into the yellow jersey, which featured his name and the number 97, his favourite. To complete the look and show balanced support, Naushad paired it with a Punjab Kings cap, cheering for his younger son Musheer Khan as well.
The video quickly went viral, highlighting years of sacrifice and dedication by the Khan family from Mumbai. Naushad, who has coached both sons since childhood, stood beside Sarfaraz with visible pride. This rare glimpse of emotion added a special layer to the high-stakes IPL encounter.
Sarfaraz shared the moment warmly: "Welcome to Chennai, Dad. CSK has made a Jersey for you. Your name and the number 97 are written on the jersey. 97 is your favourite number, and Naushad is written on the jersey," he said. "I know he will support CSK as I am his elder son," he added.
His father replied with simple yet powerful advice: "All the best, do well. Learn from Mahi Bhai, focus on the progress."
The message to “learn from Mahi bhai” (MS Dhoni) and focus on the process resonated deeply, especially as Sarfaraz steps up in the middle order while Dhoni recovers from a calf injury that will sideline him for the first two weeks of the season.
Sarfaraz and Musheer are ready for brother vs brother battle
Sarfaraz Khan joined CSK at the 2026 mini-auction for INR 75 lakh after an impressive domestic form, including India’s fastest List A fifty. The 28-year-old right-hander aims to strengthen Chennai Super Kings' batting at Chepauk, where spin-friendly conditions could suit his game.
On the other side, younger brother Musheer Khan, a promising all-rounder retained by PBKS, brings solid domestic credentials and left-arm spin. The 21-year-old starred in the 2024 U19 World Cup and has shown big-match temperament. This marks the first IPL meeting between the brothers, turning the contest into an exciting “brother vs brother” storyline.
Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings: Full squads
PBKS squad: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh(w), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Praveen Dubey, Vishnu Vinod, Suryansh Shedge, Yash Thakur, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ben Dwarshuis, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash, Vishal Nishad
CSK squad: Sanju Samson(w), Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Ayush Mhatre, Matthew Short, Kartik Sharma, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Sarfaraz Khan, Prashant Veer, Rahul Chahar, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Akeal Hosein, MS Dhoni, Shreyas Gopal, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, Aman Khan, Dewald Brevis, Zakary Foulkes, Urvil Patel
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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