Hardik Pandya made the Gujarat Titans champion for the first time. Yet on the opening day of the IPL, ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ screams rang out from the gallery at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s popularity in Indian cricket is so unwavering.
He will take the team to Chennai’s 22 yards on Monday in search of their first win of the competition. Will the MA Chidambaram stadium be silent? If there is, the cricket world will be surprised. Dhoni considers Chennai as his hometown. He has developed a kinship with this southern city due to playing for the Chennai franchise of IPL for a long time. Residents of Ranchi, therefore, have a different attraction toward Chennai.

He could have said goodbye to cricket after playing IPL last time. Dhoni did not say as the IPL franchises did not get a chance to play at home for the last three years due to Covid. The same applies to Chennai. Dhoni wanted to return home to retire playing in front of the cricket lovers of Chennai. The wicket-keeper batsman said that after the end of the last match so he wanted to keep himself in the 22-yard fight for another year. This year, the IPL has returned to the cities. He also returned to Chennai. The baton of leadership is again in his hands. Cricket lovers in Chennai are waiting for the legend to come down to toss. Monday is not the day to think about who is the opponent, or who will play. Chennai only wants Dhoni.

Dhoni retired from international cricket in July 2019. Now only plays IPL. However, his popularity has not declined so much. His influence on Indian cricket is as unwavering as his popularity. Ravindra Jadeja’s distance from the Chennai authorities can erase the effect on a few phones. Relationships on the brink of separation become normal and relaxed effortlessly.

Cricket lovers are not new to this effortless effort of Dhoni. Since becoming the captain of the Indian team, he has been known for his cool brain. The coldness gradually increased the warmth of the fans’ love. Chennai did not fare well in the last season of IPL. The four-time champions finished ninth in the points standings. This time will change the picture? Chennai is full of hope.

Will Mahendra retire? He is only 42! Can he still compete with cricketers half his age? What is the harm if the scale of his cricket career increases a little?