MS Dhoni’s latest sports venture, 7Padel, had its grand opening in Chennai on Thursday — but it was a light-hearted rally between the former India skipper and music composer Anirudh Ravichander that stole the show online. The clip of the duo playing shots on the court quickly went viral, adding a dash of star power to the brand’s debut.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The sprawling 20,000-square-foot facility in Palavakkam, ECR, boasts three padel courts, a pickleball court, swimming pool, gym, recovery room, café, and sauna. Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad also joined the launch festivities.“Chennai has always been special to me. The city has given me so much on and off the field, and it feels only right to launch my first padel centre here. Padel is exciting and addictive. More importantly, it’s inclusive and anyone, not just professionals, can try the sport. I want 7Padel to be a place where athletes, families, and fitness lovers all find their space,” Dhoni said at the inauguration.Padel, a racquet sport blending tennis and squash, is played on an enclosed court smaller than a tennis court — typically in doubles — making it fast-paced and social. Dhoni’s investment aims to introduce this growing sport to a wider audience in India.
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Anirudh, fresh from his music commitments, took to the court with Dhoni, flashing his trademark smile while trading rallies. With Dhoni’s influence and the viral buzz from the launch, 7Padel is poised to become both a sporting hotspot and a celebrity hangout in Chennai.