Whenever Chennai plays host to an IPL game involving Chennai Super Kings, the city comes to a standstill gripped by a mania that is unmatched cutting across all the other venues.
MS Dhoni
Chennai:
The fact that their beloved team is the defending champion, besides being the only franchise to qualify for the playoffs every season, only adds to the soaring expectations.CSK got off to a good start this season winning four of its five matches without so much as breaking a sweat.
Another common feature among the full-house was the ‘Dhoni’ masks that were omnipresent. Given the fan following MS Dhoni commands in Chennai, it should come as no surprise to see the adopted son being placed on the pedestal of godly-status.
It is a fact that is not lost on Dhoni as he acknowledged on many occasions in the past the kind of emotional bond he shares with the city he calls his second home.
In the popularity ratings, the man who comes a distant second to Dhoni is Suresh Raina, the player the fans call affectionately as ‘Chinna Thala’.
What was glaringly obvious was the minuscule presence of the Kolkata Knight Riders fans, CSK’s opponent on the day. Predictably, the home team’s supporters greatly outnumbered the away set of fans making them realise why Chepauk is often called a ‘Fortress’.
It was understandable considering the onset of a heat wave in this part of the world that is forcing many people to stay indoors.
The CSK loyalists were hoping that Andre Russell wouldn’t create the kind of impact that has seen him win matches single-handedly.
“I’m a big fan of Russell and he has entertained all of us with his batting, but I pray that he gets out cheaply tonight,” said a young CSK supporter.
The scene remained the same on Tuesday, too, with hordes of frenzied fans making their presence felt in no uncertain terms raising the decibel levels through the roof.
The fact that their beloved team is the defending champion, besides being the only franchise to qualify for the playoffs every season, only adds to the soaring expectations.CSK got off to a good start this season winning four of its five matches without so much as breaking a sweat.
Another common feature among the full-house was the ‘Dhoni’ masks that were omnipresent. Given the fan following MS Dhoni commands in Chennai, it should come as no surprise to see the adopted son being placed on the pedestal of godly-status.
It is a fact that is not lost on Dhoni as he acknowledged on many occasions in the past the kind of emotional bond he shares with the city he calls his second home.
In the popularity ratings, the man who comes a distant second to Dhoni is Suresh Raina, the player the fans call affectionately as ‘Chinna Thala’.
What was glaringly obvious was the minuscule presence of the Kolkata Knight Riders fans, CSK’s opponent on the day. Predictably, the home team’s supporters greatly outnumbered the away set of fans making them realise why Chepauk is often called a ‘Fortress’.
It was understandable considering the onset of a heat wave in this part of the world that is forcing many people to stay indoors.
The CSK loyalists were hoping that Andre Russell wouldn’t create the kind of impact that has seen him win matches single-handedly.
“I’m a big fan of Russell and he has entertained all of us with his batting, but I pray that he gets out cheaply tonight,” said a young CSK supporter.