IPL 2024: Since When Did We Normalise Cricketers Joining Social Media Fan Wars?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and knocked them out of the IPL 2024. RCB qualified for playoffs in an unprecedented manner after winning six consecutive games. They went berserk on the field after the victory. MS Dhoni made RCB’s post-match celebration look too long and left the field without shaking hands. The fans blamed RCB for disrespecting a stalwart of the game who had probably played his last match ever. The visuals that did rounds of the internet, in fact, show that Dhoni didn’t wait for his own teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur to come back near the boundary line.

Chennai Super Kings are often termed as the calmest and the coolest franchise at work. The franchise often comes out different from the others, a side that would avoid bursting crackers during an extravagant carnival. This is despite them being the most consistent franchise, qualifying 12 times–the maximum–for playoffs throughout 16 seasons. CSK have often found a place in the better half of the points table and rarely languishes at the bottom.

However, IPL 2024 was different.

The first differentiator for CSK was their topsy-turvy performance throughout the season, fluctuating from top to bottom in the points table. The crash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru juggernaut finally eliminated them.

This ouster did not go well with the Yellow Army and hatred started to pour in for RCB.

Loud cheers, decibel levels, team slogans, notorious placards, media vox-pops, post-match autographs, and waving flags, are all, important components of a cricket match. But booing on the field of play, trolls, hate comments on players’ Instagram posts, and personal threats kick in the uglier side of the fandom which is absolutely needless.

Hardik Pandya was booed on the field, Mumbai Indians fans were divided, Virat Kohli fans threw hate comments on Jasprit Bumrah’s post after his dismissal, and CSK fans cursing Shivam Dube are some of the instances that have shown a glimpse of the ugly side of the fans. Another fan war episode of the season, as mentioned at the start, aired after CSK’s defeat to RCB.

While a section of fans blamed RCB for disrespecting Dhoni, the RCB fans went aloud, calling Dhoni’s behaviour lacking sportsmanship.

The fan wars notched up a level higher after RCB lost to Rajasthan Royals in the eliminator. CSK fans were ready with their weapons and waiting to taste blood as soon as RCB lost to RR. Probably, fans of CSK—which has been the most consistent team—were not used to accepting defeats with humility and were happy to celebrate RCB’s loss.

However, little did we know that this was all a precursor, to what was supposed to follow. Fan wars are needless, but not something with a pinch of novelty.

What was new and surprising was players joining the fan wars and becoming trolls.

KL Rahul’s ‘Pressure and Politics’ Times 1000 Advice Dissuades Justin Langer From Applying For India Coach Job

CSK’s current and former players left everyone dumbstruck after they had to essentially send out a reminder of five titles and troll RCB in different ways.

Tushar Deshpande initiated the proceedings, re-sharing a CSK fan post of Bengaluru’s CANT Railway Station, reading “Bengaluru Can’t”. Despite he had deleted the post soon after, the netizens had already spread it like wildfire.

Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu, always known for his aggressive on-field behaviour, soon joined the troll party, sharing a video in which several CSK players could be seen highlighting their five IPL trophies.

Rayudu captioned the video, “Just a kind reminder from 5 times champions. Sometimes a gentle reminder is required.”

‘I Can Never Be Courageous, If I Don’t Feel Fear’: MS Dhoni Opens Up on the Role Fear Played in His Career

As if this wasn’t sufficient, Deepak Chahar and Matheesha Pathirana added to the trolling in the comments section. Interestingly, Rayudu had only allowed the duo to comment on his post.

This was a first of its kind in a long while, that professional cricket players, had taken to social media to troll their opposition. This unwarranted gesture undoubtedly proved to be the second differentiator of the season for CSK. Probably; CSK players also lacked the humility to accept defeats.

While MS Dhoni has been the flag-bearer of calmness and spirit of cricket, while players have been slammed for showing aggression on the field of play, joining the troll armies off the field would dampen the legacy of the most successful franchise.

Internet and social media have become inevitable parts of people’s lives in current times. Fans, fan armies, fan wars, and trolls are here to stay. Does this normalise for a professional cricketer to join the troll army?

Stay updated with the latest from IPL 2024 , including updated list of Orange Cap In IPL 2024 and Purple Cap. Explore IPL Match Today . Check IPL 2024 Points Table and players with the Most Sixes , Most Fours ,Most Fifties And Most Hundreds In IPL 2024. Stay updated with the latest news on the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.