Ever asked yourself as to what comes to the mind the moment you say ‘IPL’, the three simple alphabets clubbed together in the great game of Cricket?
To some, it may bring the thought of fiercely struck boundaries. Many would think of towering sixes, such as Faf’s 115 meter hit the other evening at the Chinnaswamy. Others may think of the great promise of the RCB and the subsequent disappointments they’ve clung to.
You’d also think of the likes of Gayle with his 175 and the six hitting machine he is. To some, the IPL would be about Russell’s power and to many others, it would always be about heroes like Sanju, Rashid, Arshdeep or Narine.
But regardless of what the IPL means to different age groups and varying perspectives, it may always remind us of a personality that’s as implicit to the series as is winning in Cricket.
The man who wears the jersey number 7 and sports it in the bright yellows; the constantly unwavering enigma that is Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Truth be told, for all that he is and has done in these years, Dhoni, much like Kohli, is the most exemplary ambassador of the Indian Premier League.
He’s the name that still fills stadia around India. The name that becomes the chant and ultimately, the chant that reverberates everywhere the Chennai Super Kings play.
And April 12, 2023, truth be told, has become a date symbolic to the IPL career of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Perhaps for as long as the IPL lasts, it won’t bd forgotten.
Today, as he plays what’s his 238th game for the Chennai Super Kings, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also appearing in his 200th game as the famous multiple crown winning team’s captain.
But let’s be frank and attempt to understand the story behind what some cynical minds may even call the “so what” date.
At a time where given the sheer competence and exemplary levels of fitness required, many might consider it a feat to play over 50 games for a franchise and even a legendary achievement to touch 100 games, that MS Dhoni is appearing in his 200th as captain is just phenomenal.
If anything, it’s a testament to his consistency and sheer longevity as a player and leader.
But beyond the banality of statistics, there are achievements and proven records that further brighten Dhoni’s star on the CSK trophy.
Unarguably the most successful captain that CSK ever had and perhaps the best that’ll ever lead the side, it was under MS Dhoni’s leadership that the team lifted the trophy on 4 separate occasions.
They won a title each in the- 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021 seasons.
As a matter of fact, Dhoni was touching 40 when he guided his side to another brilliant title triumph the last time around, circa 2021, which gives us an idea about his sheer fitness and willingness to compete at an age where many opt to wax lyrical behind the mic.
Over the years, he made hitting giant sixes and often right out of nothing a familiar habit.
Combining an ever thinking brain and lightening fast reflexes, Dhoni jumped, dived, stumped and went airborne for a team that he’s pretty much done it all.
But rather importantly, as the IPL grew in popularity and considered other rising stars as its new lights- think of Rinku Singh, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Anrich Nortje and Kyle Mayers- Dhoni’s sheer consistency ensured that CSK would often form part of discussions and remain an eternal fan favourite.
The ability to finish games on his own by clubbing massive blows into the stands in crunch situations has quenched the thirst of fans who couldn’t figure it out as to how they’d deal with Dhoni’s retirement from India duties.
Which is why year after year post-2019, there was enough thrill about the IPL since if not in Indian jersey, one would still get to see Dhoni in Chennai’s colours.
And while many would want that to never change, as luck would have it, Dhoni’s announced already that the ongoing season might well be his last.
By that thought one can only imagine if not entirely picture what exasperating sight it might be when it’ll come to his last ever appearance for Chennai as a player and captain.
But until then, let’s savour the one of a kind talent that’s amid us, one that’ll hopefully leave quite an impression in his 200th appearance as the CSK captain.
What can Chennai and MSD do tonight in the hopefully belter of a game versus Rajasthan?