The highly anticipated IPL 2024 is around the corner and the excitement in the air is palpable. Holders Chennai Super Kings will look to defend their title, in what could be charismatic skipper MS Dhoni’s final season as an active play, as they get their campaign underway against Royal Challengers Bangalore on the 22nd of March.
Ahead of the curtain-raiser of the money-rich T20 league former player and pundits Suresh Raina, RP Singh and Partiv Patel, who have all shared the dressing room with the legendary skipper at different points in time lauded the 42-year-old.
Raina, JioCinema IPL expert, who has a longstanding relationship with the CSK captain, stated that the fanfare and craze Dhoni has managed to generate is second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
“I saw Sachin Tendulkar receive this kind of love when we first came into the Indian team. That love was showered on Mahi bhai by Indian fans thereafter,” the ‘Chinna Thala’ said.
Raina, part of multiple successful CSK sides alongside Dhoni also stated that the skipper’s name was embedded in people’s hearts.
“‘MSD, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’ the name alone is embedded in people’s hearts,” the southpaw added.
RP Singh said that the reception Dhoni was given in each game last season was beyond his comprehension.
“Last year, the fan-following he witnessed was beyond my understanding. Maybe, that’s because it’s been built over the years. MS has performed incredibly for CSK since the beginning and has led them to multiple trophies,” the former Team India pacer said.
“Last year, people thought that it might be his last year as an active player, and it might be their final chance to see him play live. That may have caused a 25 to 30% increase in his fan-following. The moment he wore his pads last year, our viewership increased,” the quick added.
Singh went on to share an anecdote highlighting the special bond between Dhoni and his innumerable fans.
“I remember this team meeting a long time ago in 2006-2007 when we spoke about what drives players to perform. At that time, MS said, ‘When I get off a bus, I feel like two people are looking at me. When will those two turn to four and when will the four turn to 40? My passion for the game is because I want to play for the fans. I want the fans to see that MS Dhoni hits shots like this’,” Singh added.
Parthiv Patel, who was also part of the initial CSK units, claimed the warmth and love shown by the team’s fans last year was one of the biggest displays of affection he has witnessed.
“There have been three instances of fans showing this kind of love for players. In 2011 when we won the ODI World Cup. Then, when Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013, the entire ground waited to hear his farewell speech. And last year whenever MS Dhoni played in Chennai, not a single fan would leave until his interview was over,” the former left-handed opener said.
Dhoni’s No.7 jersey and Tendulkar’s No.10 jersey are the only two numbers that have been retired in honour of the respective players. Patel added that such an honour was only possible due to the aura the legends have created thanks to the love of the fans.
“Look at the two jerseys retired by the BCCI. One is the No. 7 and the other is the No. 10. It shows that Dhoni isn’t just a player, he’s an emotion. The way he connects with people, whenever he meets people anywhere, he’ll talk to them as respectfully as possible. Only after doing all of this, you can create the aura that makes everybody love you,” Patel added.
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