'Name is embedded in people's hearts' - Suresh Raina claims MS Dhoni's fandom mirrors Sachin Tendulkar's
Published - 13 Mar 2024, 06:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
Former Indian batsman turned broadcaster Suresh Raina admitted that only Sachin Tendulkar had a fandom as big as the legendary figure of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni. Raina made this claim while speaking to several of his former teammates in a round table conversation discussing the greatness of Dhoni on Jio Cinema.
The likes of Suresh Raina, RP Singh, and Parthiv Patel, all of them shared their best-ever fandom moments. Raina had the most intriguing one when he was asked if he had ever seen a fandom like MS Dhoni. Raina was a key member of the CSK team under the captaincy of Dhoni during their IPL titles wins in 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2018.
Raina feels MS Dhoni became a fan favorite after Sachin Tendulkar retired
“Absolutely, I saw Sachin Tendulkar receive this kind of love when we first came into the Indian team. That love was showered on Mahi Bhai by Indian fans thereafter. ‘MSD, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’ the name alone is embedded in people’s hearts,” Suresh Raina said via Jio Cinema.
Last year when MS Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings towards their 5th IPL title late at night in the Narendra Modi stadium, he was asked if he will return next season or not. Dhoni revealed that he was struggling with his troubled knee and that he would be undergoing surgery very soon.
He responded that since the fans showed so much love to him, it’s only fair for him to return for the fans in next year’s IPL. The 2024 season is touted to be MS Dhoni’s one last dance in the richest cricketing league which will kick off from March 22nd onwards.
The CSK will play the season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore in front of home support at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. The match is expected to break all previous viewership records as MS Dhoni will be head-to-head against Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli and also his former Super King Faf Du Plessis who played 9 seasons and won 4 IPL titles with CSK.
Few people will get emotional as well as this season could mark the final time Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni play against each other. But then there is another set of people who believe that Dhoni still has 3 4 years of IPL cricket left in him and that he should not be backing down from playing a few more editions.
Chennai Super Kings full squad for IPL 2024
The Chennai Super Kings after playing the IPL opener on March 22nd, will play a replay of last year’s finale against a Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans team at Chepauk. In their next match, CSK will fly up North to the national capital for a clash against Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals before coming down South again to go against Pat Cummins’ Sunrisers Hyderabad.
