Family time: Indian stars relax with loved ones before IPL duty - See Pics

Shikhar Dhawan with his wife (Photo: Twitter / @SDhawan25)

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) begins April 7 and to be fully rejuvenated for a nearly two-month-long T20 grind that ends May 27, Indian cricket stars spent quality time with family before joining their respective teams. 

While Delhi Daredevils' captain Gautam Gambhir was spotted with his wife and daughter taking blessings at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, Mumbai Indians' leader Rohit Sharma and Sunrisers Hyderabad's Shikhar Dhawan spent time relaxing with their loved ones. 

Here are some of the pics:

Gambhir Family in Amritsar (Photo: PTI)

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (Photo: Twitter / @imVkohli)

Shikhar Dhawan with wife and son in Melbourne, Australia (Photo: Shikhar Dhawan Instagram)

Shikhar Dhawan with wife (Photo: Twitter / @SDhawan25)

Rohit Sharma with his wife (Photo: Rohit Sharma Instagram)

Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings' captain MS Dhoni was in the capital on Monday to receive the Padma Bhushan from the President of India. Lt. Colonel Dhoni came wearing his Territorial Army uniform and marched towards President Ram Nath Kovind like a true army man to receive his award. 

Watch Dhoni receiving the Padma Bhushan

The march past, the salute, the holding of the certificate, everything done so beautifully. Congratulations Lt. Colonel MS Dhoni of 106 Para TA Batallion on the #PadmaBhushan ! pic.twitter.com/sIXRt2GUqj — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 3, 2018

Dhoni is making a return as captain of CSK, following the franchise's re-introduction to the IPL having served a two-year ban for being involved in a corruption scandal.

CSK coach Stephen Fleming believed Dhoni will play a prominent role as a batsman in this edition of the league.

"MS will be relatively high. The time that we choose (to send Dhoni out to bat) may depend on the match situation as well. He would definitely play a more prominent role as a batter," Fleming said when asked about Dhoni's probable batting position.

"Ahead of him, there are some good picks: Kedar Jadhav, Ambati Rayudu. (Ravindra) Jadeja, (Dwayne) Bravo, Harbhajan (Singh) fit in there as well, (and) Karn Sharma, they can all hit. So again, looking at our side, there are a lot of multi-skilled players. There are a lot of options there," he added.

To the question, if CSK would use the yo-yo test for its players, Fleming said 'no' and added there were other things to get right.

"The yo-yo test? No. It is very much into personal fitness. It is not the focus of the side. There is so many other stuff to get right. We have Greg King from South Africa, who is an outstanding trainer. All we ask for is a continuation of the professionalism. We don't ask to up the ante or drop it down," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)