Just like his finishing abilities and leadership skills have struck a chord with the fans, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also managed to earn a lot of respect for his calm and composed demeanor, both on and off the field. Whether it's about taking important decisions in pressure situations or going for calculated risks in a tense run-chase, Dhoni's cool head has been aiding Team India for quite some time now.

However, for a man who is rarely seen letting his emotions get the better of him, Dhoni got quite emotional and almost broke into tears as he spoke about the return of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season. Chennai, one of the most successful sides in the IPL, were suspended for two years after being caught up in the sensational spot-fixing controversy.

BCCL

And, as the team and fans gear up for their highly-awaited return this year, Chennai's mercurial captain somehow managed to hold back his tears as he took long pauses to settle himself down before suggesting we should forget the past and look ahead to the future.

The Moment @msdhoni Got emotional !!

Shows ho much @ChennaiIPL means to him ðð#Dhoni #CSK #whistlepodu #WhistlePoduArmy pic.twitter.com/CrftU4GnND

"What's important is to go through everything with a smile on your face but what's next is what is important for us. We are back, we are back," said Dhoni in the brief video posted on Twitter.

After seeing Dhoni getting emotional, his compatriot and Chennai teammate Suresh Raina quickly intervened and offered the Jharkhand cricketer some water. Dhoni, Raina and Ravindra Jadeja - who has been core players for the yellow brigade over the years - were all retained by Chennai ahead of the IPL auction in February.

BCCL

Under Dhoni's tutelage, Chennai romped to two IPL titles in 2010 and 2011. The CSK skipper also played a pivotal role in his team's triumphant outing in the Champions League T20 in 2010 and 2014. In the last 10 editions of the IPL, Dhoni has amassed 3,561 runs in 159 matches while playing for Chennai and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS).

The touching video of Dhoni once again highlights what Chennai Super Kings really mean to the Indian cricket star. And, as Chennai gear up for the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians (MI) on 7 April, the yellow brigade will once again be counting on their 'Thala' to help them begin their season on a winning note.