Dhoni Owes His Fans One Last Dance at the Chepauk

 

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What is sport without its fans? They are the ones who deify a human being and give him god-like status. They push the bar and make superheroes out of mortals. In the ultimate analysis, there is no sport without them. It is to them that MS Dhoni owes one final goodbye. They want him out there one final time at the Chepauk, to celebrate their Thala and the bond they share with him. Yes, it could well be that he is past his prime and isn’t really ready to play a full game. But the fact that he has trained all season does mean he nurtured ambitions of playing. So, it would not be a bad idea to push the tired body one final time for the legion of men and women who have travelled the journey with him and made him Thala.

I am conscious that it could well be emotion speaking here more than reason. But then, what is sport without emotion? Neymar Jr has been picked in the Brazil team for the FIFA World Cup more on the basis of emotion than reason. And here, we are talking about just one IPL game. Dhoni had once said that he would play his last game at Chepauk, and he needs to do it for his fans and stay true to his word.

Some relationships are beyond monetary gain. Dhoni’s relationship with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is one such example. He is part of the set-up and has always been the special one. He was allowed to shape the team and build it in the manner he wanted, and I am sure he will be asked to remain associated with the set-up in any way he wants. For a franchise that has stood by him through thick and thin, he needs to do it one more time.

Knowing him, there will be a steely silence for months now. He hasn’t travelled to Ahmedabad for the final CSK game, and his season is all but over. While no one really knows whether he will return for 2027, a very senior member of the CSK management said to me yesterday, “I hope he will.” They were words filled with emotion and showed what he means to them.

There will never be a second Dhoni. Maybe there will be a better wicketkeeper or even a better batter, but to see someone attain the same level of iconic status would be a real far cry. He is an emotion for his fans, and they will do all they can to have one final opportunity to celebrate him. It will add to the spectacle that the IPL is and become an occasion to remember.

As a journalist, I asked myself if I want to see Dhoni one more time. From a pure cricketing standpoint, it could well be that he may not have much impact. But then I asked myself, as a fan, if it would mean a lot for fandom – and here my answer is an overwhelming yes. For the many millions who have been with him throughout his career, he owes them the last dance. One final time. At Chepauk. Maybe in 2027.

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