MS Dhoni
When playing the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, home teams are at a distinct disadvantage. Each franchise is allowed to play seven home games throughout a season according to the league system. However, that is just on paper. Over the last 17 years of the Indian Premier League, MS Dhoni’s popularity has been so great that even the opposing crowd has taken to donning the CSK yellow jersey with the number 7 emblazoned on the back. Every arena experiences the “yellove” invasion regardless of the team’s location or time of play, depriving every franchise of home support when they host the Chennai Super Kings.
Pat Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, was there on Friday to see it firsthand as a sea of yellow people filled the orange-painted seats at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, preparing to welcome the Orange Army, eager to watch their hero, possibly in his final IPL season.
Finally, MS Dhoni walked out with three balls remaining in the CSK innings, and Hyderabad exploded. The ‘Dhoni-Dhoni’ chants sent the audience into a frenzy.
After the game, Cummins was asked if the team had changed anything before the start of the current season. He was first informed that SRH, who had won both of their home games in 2024, had not succeeded in turning Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium into a stronghold the previous season, having won just one of their seven home games. The Australian player who won the World Cup, though, emphasized the “crazy” reaction that Dhoni got when he stepped out to bat and said that it astounded him.
“Crowd was crazy tonight. When MS Dhoni walked out, it was as loud as I’ve ever heard,” he said. “But yes we love playing here and we made it two from two.”
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When asked to ask the home audience to show up in greater numbers wearing the SRH shirt, all Cummins could muster was a sheepish smile and a “Please.”
Dube struck a scorching forty-five to be the lone noteworthy hitter for CSK on the slow Hyderabad track. Chennai had managed 115 for two in 13 overs, comfortably on their way to a score of 190-200, riding high on his 24-ball effort. But the visitors could only muster 50 runs in the next seven overs at the expense of three more wickets. Cummins disclosed that SRH was able to succeed by altering their bowling strategy.
“Different soil. Slowed up a little bit as the game went on. Shivam was hitting it well against the spin. Thought we’ll take chance with off-cutters,” he said after SRH’s six-wicket win.