‘Vandharai vazhaveikkum Chennai’ is a well-liked saying in Tamil. Elaborately translated, it means a Chennai that helps each customer discover a life. At occasions, the nomenclature Chennai is changed with Tamil Nadu, simply to replicate a State that has welcomed numerous communities to its shores, plains and hills.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni neatly ties into this overwhelming socio-anthropological narrative. Earlier, it was Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, famously often known as Rajinikanth, who blended in. One a cricketer from Ranchi; the opposite a famous person, a Marathi with deep roots in Bengaluru. ‘Dhoni and Rajini’ appears like a rhyme and slots into the Tamil language’s tonality.
Sense of possession
There is a way of possession that followers in Chennai, and Tamil Nadu at giant, exude in direction of their favorite icons. Years in the past, Kamal Haasan emphatically stated this in regards to the nice actor and comic, Nagesh: “His roots may be Kannadiga, but he is ours, we won’t give him up.” If Kamal can say such a factor, you can think about the random fan’s affection for his or her idol!
Truly, the macroscopic index highlights an indulgence in direction of the outsider, who then turns into a quintessential insider. Dhoni sails in that boat. Sport takes an athlete to varied phases, largely a theatre of affection the place wonderful abilities garner adulation no matter native land, accent, dialect, faith and bank-balance.
The symbiosis that Dhoni and Chennai share is exclusive. There was Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Yet sooner or later the nice Argentine footballer moved on from FC Barcelona. Dhoni might not communicate Tamil whereas Messi speaks Spanish, the language of the road in Barcelona and Buenos Aires, and but the ties that bind Dhoni and Chennai via the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) connection are mighty robust.
If Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have remained fused proper from the maiden Indian Premier League in 2008, Dhoni’s umbilical twine with CSK was as soon as nipped briefly. The spot-fixing and betting scandal in 2013 and the following inquiry led to the suspension of CSK in the course of the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
To be truthful to Dhoni and his teammates, none of them have been tainted with any whiff of corruption, however the franchise needed to pay a worth for the foibles of Gurunath Meiyappan, a key member within the franchise’s construction. Dhoni then turned out for Rising Pune Supergiant. But as soon as the hiatus was lifted, he promptly returned to CSK within the 2018 season and gained the championship.
Quicksilver: Dhoni would possibly be a grizzled veteran in cricketing years, however his glovework as much as the stumps continues to be predatory. He continues to create wicket-taking alternatives together with his quick fingers and sport consciousness. | Photo credit score: AP
In Tamil Nadu, the place popular culture references mine the nice comeback tales on celluloid, it was time to attract Dhoni into this world of hope, laughter and redemption. He turned this messiah, doing the unattainable, clouting helicopter sixes and profitable titles, 5 at that.
Sporting and industrial colossus
This is a back-story that strengthened the Dhoni model and stretched it in direction of the stratosphere from the Coromandel Coast. The proven fact that he led India to titles within the 2007 ICC World T20, 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy, all mixed collectively to form a sporting colossus gaining consideration from corporates, manufacturers and promoting companies.
In the industrial terrain of Indian cricket, the brand-equity that Sachin Tendulkar had was handed on to Dhoni and now this financial heft resides with Kohli. But within the microscopic gaze centred on CSK, Dhoni is the all-pervading magnet. Decades in the past, the Congress get together had coined this slogan: “India is Indira, Indira is India.” It was an over-the-top tribute to late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. A cricketing equal would be: “CSK is Dhoni, Dhoni is CSK.”
This seemingly eternal bond, in addition to the cultural increments that Dhoni has reaped from Tamil Nadu’s panorama, has additionally left CSK blinkered in direction of its main star. Dhoni is 43 now, has dodgy knees regardless of a corrective surgical procedure, and coach Stephen Fleming himself admitted that the previous India captain can not be sprinting at full tilt for greater than 10 overs whereas batting.
Having retired from Tests in 2014, and from ODIs and T20Is in 2020, Dhoni has stretched his IPL profession from 2008 to 2025. When the mid-to-late-thirties syndrome has caught up with Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni stays an outlier at 43. In the longevity sweepstakes, he and England’s James Anderson have carved out a singular path. The latter continues to be doing the rounds for Lancashire.
This season, nonetheless, the odd stray comment in opposition to Dhoni has been aired. Perhaps it pressured Fleming to step out together with his caveat. The lightning wicketkeeping reflexes behind the crease are nonetheless intact. But Dhoni’s major card, in addition to his captaincy, has been his muscular batting.
Over the previous few seasons, that potential has been revealed solely in micro-cameos, if such a phrase can be used. In CSK’s latest conflict in opposition to Lucknow Super Giants, Dhoni’s unbeaten 11-ball 26 sealed the sport for his aspect. However, these knocks have gotten fewer and far between. Yes, he can clout mighty sixes, and, again as skipper after an damage dominated Ruturaj Gaikwad out, Dhoni stays mentally agile.
Only in flashes: Dhoni’s muscular batting has lengthy been his calling card, however knocks reminiscent of his unbeaten 11-ball 26 in opposition to Lucknow Super Giants have gotten rarer and rarer. | Photo credit score: Getty Images
Yet, Father Time has a manner of getting even. Recent clips of Dhoni limping a bit set X (previously Twitter) abuzz. It doesn’t assist that CSK has had a poor begin and even its fortress at Chennai, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, has been breached. Leading and conserving for 20 overs and maybe having the ability to bat for about 10 overs is now seen because the Dhoni template. And that may imply the opposite CSK gamers should step up.
The ageism debate
In all this concentrate on Dhoni, it’s a proven fact that the CSK bowlers have bled and its batters, particularly the middle-order, have lacked thrust. But since Dhoni is seen as this conjurer of miracles, the scrutiny narrows in on him. It additionally triggers the ageism debate. The quantity 43 looms huge and then the query arises: for how lengthy?
There is the added financial question, as many manufacturers trip piggyback on the afterglow that Dhoni bequeaths to CSK. Besides the cricket on provide, IPL can also be seen as an funding enterprise for corporates and actors. Many years in the past, when a franchise broke the financial institution for an ageing Yuvraj Singh, it was a choice largely ruled by the pull he had on manufacturers.
Very few legends in Indian cricket have bowed out on the apt time. Kapil Dev stretched his end line and so did Tendulkar. For Dhoni and CSK, the threads that hyperlink them are extremely robust, however within the tough world of sport and performance-metrics, sentiment might not completely current a powerful argument. But like turning throats hoarse for a Rajini flick within the theatres, cheering for Dhoni is a Chennai behavior.
The final phrase would clearly belong to him, and it might be secretive. His Test retirement was a BCCI be aware, his total India retirement was an Instagram submit! CSK’s yellow brigade would possibly say that’s his model. If ever there was a fandom that bordered on blind affection, that is it. It can also be the cultural angle, because the outsider is now the insider.
Published – April 18, 2025 10:36 pm IST
