MS Dhoni isn’t the same player he once was. He isn’t the same finisher either. Had that been the case, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wouldn’t have lost against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy. Dhoni failed against the leggie Suyash Sharma and that was when the match turned difficult for CSK. With Shivam Dube still in the dugout, Dhoni’s decision to come in ahead of him was surely debateable. And yet, he remains the craze. The Pied Piper and the central act of the drama. Kolkata and the Eden Gardens is no different, and the debate at the RevSportz studio yesterday was about Kolkata turning yellow for the game against CSK. For no other team does this happen. This shows how powerful the cult of MS Dhoni is.
Will Kolkata support its own team or will they turn up in yellow to support a son they consider their own? That’s the talk ahead of the clash on May 7. Dhoni, it has to be said, has always shared a special bond with Kolkata. Although Chennai is now his cricketing home, the City of Joy has always been a special place for him. Growing up, Dhoni played lot of junior cricket in Kolkata. His time as a ticket collector for Indian Railways in Kharagpur is now part of the Dhoni folklore. He scored his maiden first-class ton for Bihar at the Eden Gardens in January 2001. Later, as India captain, he scored two of his six Test centuries at Indian cricket’s most storied venue. Also, Kolkata is where his in-laws settled. Dhoni’s bond with the city goes far beyond the boundary.
Coming to local cricket, Dhoni’s knock for Shyambazar in the P Sen Trophy final is still talked about on the local club cricket circuit in Kolkata. Dhoni won the final against Sporting Union despite playing with fever.
On Wednesday, May 7, when he leads CSK against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens, it will not be surprising if the iconic venue turns into a sea of yellow. According to CAB officials, we should expect for there to be as many Dhoni fans as KKR supporters.
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Is this the last time that Kolkata will be seeing Dhoni in action? Maybe that’s what makes this match a tad more emotional for fans. Dhoni, in fact, dropped a hint that the ongoing IPL season could well be his last when he said he didn’t know what he’d be doing in the next game. If he does decide to hang up his boots after this season, it will be the last opportunity for the fans in Kolkata to witness the legend in action at Eden Gardens.
A generation after he first lit up the city’s cricket maidans, fans in Kolkata will have another opportunity to watch Dhoni. In front of a packed Eden Gardens, it could be an emotional and unforgettable occasion for many. It is no longer about a win or loss. Rather, it is about enjoying the man and celebrating him. Most fans would want a Kolkata win, while also celebrating Dhoni to the fullest. That’s the best possible night out on Wednesday.