Are they CSK fans or just Dhoni fans?
On Friday night, Chennai Super Kings played a match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. CSK had to chase a big target of 197, but by the 13th over Shivam Dube was out and it seemed that the match was out of hand. If such a situation had happened and Dhoni was still left to bat, then CSK fans would have still hoped that who would chase 15-16 runs in more overs.
But at that time Ravindra Jadeja was at the crease and CSK needed 117 runs in 7.1 overs. As soon as Dube was out, the whole stadium was expecting that Dhoni would come to bat. Broadcasters also stopped before going to the ads, but this moment did not come then. R Ashwin came in place of Dhoni! Seeing this, fans and commentators were also in shock.
Ashwin is a good batsman, but when the required rate has gone beyond 15, then who would be a better option than Dhoni? CSK had to miss the playoffs last year due to NRR, still they took this decision? This was beyond understanding.
CSK’s early surrender
Ashwinaur Jadeja’s batting was slow. It did not seem that CSK was in the mood to chase. Only 19 runs were scored in 3.3 overs. RCB players never looked so relaxed against CSK before.
Ashwin got out in the 16th over when he tried to clear the long on boundary. Chepauk’s pitch was slow and it was not easy to hit RCB bowlers.
Chepak’s roar – but why?
As soon as Ashwin got out, the Chepauk crowd started cheering loudly. It became difficult to understand whether these were CSK fans or RCB fans! But the real reason was that Dhoni was finally coming to bat.
Yes, no other layer would have got as much popularity as Dhoni. But when the team is losing the match, it is strange to celebrate so much only on his arrival. The biggest question is if Dhoni could have easily hit Krunal Pandya with two boundaries in the last over, then why did he not come in the 14th over? If he had come then, RCB’s young captain Rajat Patidar could have come under pressure.
Virender Sehwag also pulled his leg a little, “Dhoni came to bat early.”
Manoj Tiwari said, “CSK coaches don’t have the guts to ask Dhoni to bat higher.”
Is it right to just wait for Dhoni’s sixes?
Dhoni has set his role, he just has to bat in the last 2-3 overs. His training is also designed in this way. But if the team needs quick runs, then shouldn’t he be flexible? CSK cannot reach the playoffs just with the cheers of Chepauk, performance on the field will also have to be shown.
When Dhoni hit two sixes off Krunal, Danny Morrison jokingly said, “Now fans can go home happy”
But the truth is that CSK fans just want to see Dhoni batting, not the team winning. Has CSK’s fandom now become dependent only on Dhoni’s shots?
CSK or Dhoni – who do you really support?
This trend is not just of today. Ever since the discussion of Dhoni’s retirement started in the last few years, the atmosphere of Chepauk has been like this. CSK’s ex-layer Ambati Rayudu had also said that this culture of CSK is not fair for other players.
“Many players feel uncomfortable with this. We all like Dhoni, but when fans expect only other players to get out, it feels strange,” Rayudu said.
CSK is a good team that can fill the stadium even on weekdays. But the big question is whether people are fans of CSK or only Dhoni? Is the ‘knowledgeable crowd’ of Chepauk watching the match only for vibes, or is cricket also important? This needs to be thought about!
