Chennai Super Kings skipper M.S. Dhoni waves to followers after the CSK beat Gujarat Titans within the remaining match of the Indian Premier League 2023 at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Indian Premier League (IPL), by design, doesn’t fairly lend itself to European football-like sports activities fandom. Allegiances are largely fluid and the emotional join with a group, even after 16 lengthy years of the match, nonetheless lacks depth. This is probably as a result of the present is basically managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which believes that periodic auctions that result in the chopping and altering of outfits are important to take care of aggressive steadiness.
Few venues have designated residence and away stands, and fan songs, if any, are nonetheless within the realm of creativeness. The areas for the marquee play-off matches are determined even earlier than the groups qualify, additional decreasing the probabilities of a partisan crowd-building. In reality, after every contest, the most marketed photos are these of rival gamers sharing an excellent chuckle. The general want is thus to promote a high-quality leisure bundle each night, and nothing extra.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and its ultra-passionate assist base militate in opposition to this concept. If galleries on the iconic Chepauk stadium resemble a sea of yellow, video games at impartial venues should not with out CSK oases. In Bengaluru, one in every of India’s most cosmopolitan cities, it may be safely stated that CSK has as many followers as Royal Challengers Bangalore. People have internalised this to such an extent that journalists in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, the 2 venues the place I’ve lined matches, invariably conclude that CSK followers have outnumbered the locals.
The man who’s singularly accountable for such mania is M.S. Dhoni. Ever because the franchise broke the financial institution on the inaugural 2008 public sale to signal him for a then document $1.5 million, Dhoni has occupied the best place within the CSK totem pole. It doesn’t matter that he’s from Ranchi and might communicate, at finest, a smattering of Tamil. In a area the place the sub-nationalist id, formed by language, is sort of robust, the love for Dhoni is natural. I’ve seen many who genuinely consider that Dhoni will be elected unopposed if ever he contests a parliamentary election in Chennai.
This bond was most not too long ago mirrored in the best way supporters thronged the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the IPL remaining in opposition to Gujarat Titans. There is an effective probability there have been extra Tamilians per sq. metre in Ahmedabad than anyplace outdoors Tamil Nadu that weekend. The skyrocketing Chennai-Ahmedabad flight ticket fares didn’t show a dampener, for just a few followers I spoke to had flown to Vadodara after which journeyed to observe the match by highway. Even when the tie slipped into the reserve day due to torrential rains, most of them stayed again, spending hundreds to reschedule their flights and resort bookings. The reward was watching their Thala (chief) carry his fifth IPL trophy as captain.
Anticipation was additionally heightened earlier than each match that Dhoni performed as a result of there was worry that the legend, quickly to be 42, will cling up his boots. This is in spite of everything a person who introduced his retirement from limited-overs worldwide cricket on Instagram. In what novel approach will he draw the curtains now? Back then, CSK’s Chinna Thala (deputy) Suresh Raina adopted swimsuit, additionally retiring on Instagram inside minutes of Dhoni. Who was he going to tug alongside now?
But the way through which Dhoni indulged his followers, by promising that he would attempt to come again subsequent season, showcased the excessive level of the mutual love. “I think it started over here [Ahmedabad] when I was playing the first game [of IPL 2023],” he stated, after the title win on Tuesday. “I just walked out and the full house was chanting my name. My eyes filled with [tears]. It was the same thing in Chennai. It will be good to come back and play.” Retired or not, Chennai’s most famous adopted son will live on for eternity.
sudarshan.narayanan@thehindu.co.in
