The craze for MS Dhoni burns bright among fans as he attracts crowd in huge numbers in every other Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match. With him certainly at the fag end of his career, every ardent fan wants to witness even a glimpse of the legendary wicket-keeper. But so far, the former India and CSK captain hasn’t come out to bat. And those who paid thousands to watch Dhoni bat have returned home with disappointment.
This pegs a big question: Is it worth to bear the expense for fans if they aren’t going to watch him bat?
MS Dhoni: Paisa waste
While the never-ending chants of ‘Dhoni Dhoni’ reverberate across stadiums, most of the CSK fans eagerly wait to watch him bat. The sight of him holding his bat and providing finishing touches in the yellow jersey has diminished hugely in recent times.
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The CSK maestro is still yet to bat in IPL 2024, while he faced only 57 balls in the entirety of IPL 2023. Being one of the best finishers in IPL, a large section of fans just pays to witness him bat. However, Dhoni demoting himself down the batting order, like we saw in the recent game against GT, leaves his die-hard fans in disappointment.
The main draw for many Dhoni fans is witnessing his batting magic. If he’s batting low in the order at number eight, or worse, not batting at all, they miss out on that core experience. They might feel they’re paying a premium for a chance that might not even materialize.
Moreover, unlike past years, fans couldn’t even catch a glimpse of his batting during the CSK training session this time. Since 2018, the team has managed to open the gates of the stadium at least once every pre-season. However, it wasn’t the case this time around, leaving fans with nothing but disappointment. Hence, shelling out thousands or stand in the queues for hours to get a ticket or even pay triple for the tickets have been futile. Thala has not been in action with the bat.
“We are sad we could not see Dhoni bat. But it’s okay CSK won,” CSK fans after the match vs GT.
On Tuesday, CSK recorded a handsome 67-run win against GT. In front of a packed Chepauk crowd, Chennai batters put up a show as they hammered 206 runs.
“My favorite player is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. We are from Chennai. This is my daughter, Kavya. My name is Neeraj. We enjoyed the match. CSK won and it is very fantastic,” CSK fan Neeraj said after the clash against GT.
Her daughter Kavya continued and showcased her sadness of not being able to watch Dhoni bat and said:
“We are sad that we couldn’t see him (Dhoni) bat. But it is okay – CSK won.”
Dhoni still full paisa vasool
While Dhoni’s blistering cameos might be less frequent, his wealth of experience of leading player is invaluable to CSK. Consider Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is in the early days of his captaincy career. Dhoni, who is considered one of the best captains India has ever produced, will provide an indispensable mentorship to Gaikwad on the field.
Moreover, Dhoni’s tactical nuances behind the stumps always provide helpful insights for the bowlers. Dhoni is a silent leader now, bestowing his wisdom on his fellow teammates at CSK.
This might be the last hurrah for Dhoni. That is why fans cherish the opportunity to witness a legend in his final act. It’s a chance to etch those memories into their hearts, to say they were there when Dhoni played his final IPL edition.
The immense fan following that MS Dhoni possesses means that he will continue to attract numbers inside the stadium. It just goes to show how impactful his performances have been over the 16 years of IPL history. So, the next time Dhoni walks onto the field, even if he doesn’t unleash his batting might, remember, for his fans, it’s about more than just runs. It’s about celebrating a legend, cherishing a final chapter, and being part of a historic farewell.
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