Dhoni’s Final Showdown: Enthusiasm Soars as 100,000+ Fans Await IPL Championship. Anticipation is mounting as a colossal crowd of over 100,000 is projected to fill the world’s largest cricket stadium on Sunday for the grand finale of the Indian Premier League, potentially marking the farewell of the cricket superstar M.S. Dhoni.

The match will see Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings pitted against reigning champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, with Chennai aiming to secure their fifth title, thus matching a record in the high-stakes T20 tournament.

However, Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will pose a formidable challenge in their home stadium as they strive to retain the title following their remarkable debut-season triumph a year ago.

In 2022, Pandya hoisted the trophy in front of a staggering 101,566 fans at the 132,000-capacity stadium, setting a new world record for a T20 cricket match. Organizers are confident that this record will be shattered on Sunday evening.

An official from the state association informed AFP that “tickets for the grand finale have been completely sold out, and we expect a packed stadium.”

While the playoff final was also expected to draw a capacity crowd, only around 75,000 fans attended the Friday match when Gujarat dominated the Mumbai Indians.

Eager supporters were seen in high spirits on Saturday as they lined up to collect their online tickets from a counter outside the stadium.

Suresh Babu, a software engineer who traveled all the way from Chennai, expressed his excitement, stating, “I have come here to witness Dhoni lift the trophy once more. It might be his last appearance, but we hope he returns next year.” The 43-year-old proudly sported Dhoni’s iconic yellow Chennai jersey.

In their second season in the tournament, Gujarat has enjoyed tremendous home support. However, allegiances will be divided due to Dhoni’s presence.

The 41-year-old continues to captivate cricket-crazy India, and it is widely believed that the final will be his swansong, despite the wicketkeeper-batsman stating that he will make a decision regarding his IPL future later this year.

Throughout the current season, the former Indian captain has drawn massive crowds in stadiums across the country, and the Narendra Modi Stadium will be no exception in the tournament’s climax.

Sharif, a T-shirt vendor who goes by a single name, remarked to AFP, “Last year, it was only Pandya jerseys that sold like hotcakes, but this time, Dhoni’s Chennai number 7 T-shirt is equally in demand.”

A young fan sporting a Pandya jersey expressed his wishes, saying, “I want Hardik to win the IPL again, but I also want to see Dhoni smash a six with his signature helicopter shot.”

That helicopter shot, a unique bottom-handed wrist flick, became Dhoni’s trademark during his heyday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is determined to leave a lasting impact by securing a fifth Indian Premier League victory for the Chennai Super Kings, signaling a possible farewell unless the cricket superstar surprises everyone and continues his career.

The shrewd tactics employed by Captain Dhoni, which have occasionally sparked controversy, once again proved successful as CSK triumphed over the highly-regarded Gujarat Titans by a margin of 15 runs. This victory secured their place in the final, scheduled to take place on Sunday at Ahmedabad, home to the world’s largest stadium.

As Dhoni’s prowess in finishing matches diminishes, coupled with concerns surrounding his troublesome knee and the growing challenge of justifying his place in the batting order, retirement seems imminent. On multiple occasions, he has hinted at this possibility.

However, Dhoni continues to keep his fans guessing. During the post-match interview on Tuesday, he stated that he would wait until the December auctions for the 2024 IPL before making a final decision.

“I will always be there for CSK, whether I am in playing form or sitting somewhere,” he assured.

He candidly admitted, “I don’t really know. But honestly, it takes a significant toll.”

The Unfazed Champion

Securing a victory on Sunday against either the Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, or Gujarat – depending on the outcome of the remaining playoffs – would serve as a remarkable final accomplishment for a player who is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of adoration from cricket-loving fans in India.

Renowned for his powerful hitting and unwavering composure, India’s most successful captain has earned various monikers, including “Captain Cool” and “Thala,” meaning “leader” in Tamil.

While Dhoni’s ability to amass runs and his exceptional finishing skills are his primary strengths, it is his distinctive style and humble beginnings that truly set him apart, providing enough material for a Bollywood biopic.

Dhoni spent his formative years in a small, government-provided one-bedroom flat in Ranchi, courtesy of his father’s job as a pump operator.

Passionate about sports from a young age, Dhoni honed his skills by playing tennis-ball cricket and borrowing equipment from friends.

Initially, at his father’s insistence, he took up a job at Indian Railways. However, the demanding routine of balancing ticket collection duties with cricket ultimately led him to break free from the constraints.

In 2004, he made his debut for the Indian team, and in 2007, he assumed the role of India’s one-day captain, guiding the national side to victory in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa the same year.

In 2008, he became the Test captain, winning two home series against Australia. Then, in 2011, he etched his name in history by magnificently sealing India’s triumph in the 50-over World Cup, played in India, with a breathtaking and imperious six.

Style Chameleon and Unwavering Presence

Throughout his journey, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s ever-changing hairstyles, ranging from shaggy to spiky to shaved, accompanied his rise as one of the highest-earning athletes in the world of sports. In 2015 alone, he amassed an estimated $31 million through numerous endorsements.

‘CSK Relies on Dhoni’

However, he sent shockwaves through the cricketing community when he bid farewell to the five-day format in 2014, concluding his captaincy tenure with 27 victories out of 60 Tests.

In 2017, Dhoni stepped down from the role of limited-overs captain, citing the need to groom Virat Kohli as the new leader. Nevertheless, he continued to play a significant role in the team’s decision-making process.

His final appearance for India occurred during their defeat to New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2019 One-Day International World Cup. Following this, he briefly served with an army reserve unit, holding the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel, before announcing his retirement from international cricket.

However, he has yet to bid farewell to the IPL.

Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, Dhoni has captained the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), leading them to nine finals and securing four victories, the most recent one in 2021.

“There is no CSK without Dhoni, and there is no Dhoni without CSK,” declared Narayanaswami Srinivasan, the industrialist who owns the franchise, after the team’s triumph in 2021.

For the passionate Chennai fans, who erupt with joy when Dhoni strides out to bat and passionately cheer every ball, he remains their one and only leader. His retirement would undoubtedly be met with great sorrow.

“They will not let him retire until he is 75,” remarked commentator Harsha Bhogle on the Indian website Cricbuzz, emphasizing the unwavering support Dhoni enjoys from the fans.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is playing with an injury in the current season of IPL. There has been speculation about his retirement for three years. Dhoni has not said anything yet. The fear of Dhoni’s retirement increased after the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. In this situation, the Chennai authorities posted a video message about Dhoni’s future.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is playing with an injury in the current season of IPL. There has been speculation about his retirement for three years. Dhoni has not said anything yet. The fear of Dhoni’s retirement increased after the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. In this situation, the Chennai authorities posted a video message about Dhoni’s future.

Chennai cricketers thanked the audience in a novel way as it was the last match of Chennai’s group stage yesterday. All the players of the team walk along the side of the field wearing special jerseys with messages of thanks to the spectators. Several cricketers like Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Moeen Ali had a racket in their hands. Take the tennis ball in the other hand and send it towards the gallery with the racket. Posters were also seen in the hands of some cricketers thanking the audience.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni ended his international career on the evening of August 15, 2020. After some time, Suresh Raina also announced that he would forever hang up the national team jersey. The sudden demise of two stars of Indian cricket on the same day was surprising. Raina himself revealed it after two and a half years.

In an interview with Sports Talk, Raina revealed the reason behind his retirement from Dhoni, which is shocking. The left-handed batsman said he played first for Dhoni, then for the country. Raina was Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s long-time deputy at Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Their chemistry in the national team was also talkable. Raina is on par with Dhoni in dominating world cricket.
Raina did not think twice about following the path of the legendary captain, ‘We have played many matches together. I was lucky to play with him for India and CSK. We got a lot of love.

I am from Ghaziabad, Dhoni is from Ranchi. I used to play for Dhoni, then for the country. That is the connection (retirement together).’ Raina also said, ‘We have played many finals, won the World Cup. He is a great leader and a wonderful person.”There were rumors of a rivalry with the former Indian captain during the Covid-interrupted IPL season.

But no one has said anything publicly about it. Raina last played in IPL in 2021. He announced he to quit all types of cricket if it is not sold in the next season. However Dhoni is playing, this year’s IPL is probably the end of his car

After that, the Indian cricket team could not win any ICC title for a long time. In the last two editions of the T20 World Cup, India was knocked out before the semi-finals.

Many people are blaming the Indian Premier League (IPL) for India’s failure on a big stage like the World Cup. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir has said that there is no scope to blame the IPL for the failure of the World Cup.

Gambhir, who retired from cricket and became a member of parliament after taking part in politics, said that IPL is the best thing in Indian cricket. From the day the IPL started, negative talk is being heard.

He also said that the IPL is being blamed for the failure of the Indian cricket team in the ICC event. That’s not right. Cricketers are responsible for not being able to play well in ICC tournaments. Their performance should be blamed. It is unfair to point fingers at the IPL.

Quoting sources in the BCCI, an Indian newspaper has claimed that Dhoni may be given the responsibility of the director of the T20 team. It’s not for a few months or a few series, it’s for a long time. Watching India play in the World Cup, the BCCI feels that the pressure on Rahul Dravid to coach in three formats at the same time is increasing. To reduce that pressure, Dhoni will be given a new responsibility. However, neither the BCCI nor Dhoni has commented on the matter yet.

Everyone knows how skilled Dhoni is in white-ball cricket, who won the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. Especially in the T20 format. Dhoni has won the IPL four times in addition to the World Cup as the captain of the shorter version of cricket. The BCCI’s Apex Council is scheduled to meet in the last week of this month. This proposal will be discussed there. Then a decision will be made.

Earlier, Dhoni was the mentor of the Indian team in the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, India could not do anything in that World Cup. Dhoni was given the responsibility just a week before the start of the tournament. It is not possible to do anything big in a short time. So this time the BCCI wants Dhoni for a long time. India also crashed out of the semi-finals of the recently concluded World Cup in Australia. Then there is intense criticism. The IPL is also being blamed.

But statistics say that Since the start of the IPL in the T20 format, India has not won any World Cup in this edition!

The last time India won the T20 World Cup was in 2007 under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The IPL came to the market the next year. However, The Indian selectors have repeatedly said that the Ranji Trophy is the best platform to understand the quality of the cricketer. Even India’s head coach Rahul Dravid is in favor of cricketers playing Ranji. But the Indian board did not pay heed to these views. The Ranji Trophy was canceled even though the IPL was organized during corona by bowing to the money.

India has got some young cricketers from the IPL. Those who are now playing in the national team. But no one can play any role on the real stage. In the 2009, 2010, and 2012 T20 World Cups, India was eliminated from the Super Eights. In the 2014 edition, they lost to Sri Lanka in the final. In 2016, they lost to the West Indies in the semi-finals at home. In the 2021 World Cup, India lost to Pakistan by 10 wickets.

India lost to England by 10 wickets in the semi-finals on Thursday. The question is, then what is the use of organizing this IPL? Experts believe that cricket is not benefiting from the IPL. It’s just the money that’s going on. Money is more important than cricket. That’s why the IPL’s audience has been decreasing for the last few seasons. Viewers are now losing interest in this once-popular tournament.