Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently shared his thoughts on the overwhelming support MS Dhoni receives from CSK fans, which, he believes, has turned into a challenge for other players. Rayudu explained that while the support for Dhoni is unmatched, it sometimes creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for players, as the crowd often wishes to see Dhoni bat, sometimes at the expense of others.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Rayudu revealed the impact of Dhoni’s star power on CSK’s players. “It is quite daunting if you’re a newcomer. It’s quite loud. The support is phenomenal. But, as you go on and play, then you realise they are MS Dhoni fans before they are CSK fans,” he said. “It is quite evident, and rightly so, because that’s the way the team has been set up and built over the years. He’s rightly named Thala (leader) and he has been calling the shots in CSK, and it’s come to a stage where people are madly in awe and in love of what he’s done for CSK.”
Dhoni, now 43, retired from international cricket in 2020 and has taken a step back from his captaincy role, allowing a smooth transition within the team. As of recent IPL seasons, Dhoni bats at number seven or eight, limiting his time at the crease and facing only 10-15 balls per match. Despite this, every time Dhoni steps onto the field, the fans go wild. Rayudu acknowledged that this phenomenon has been ongoing for several years, and some players have privately felt the pressure but haven’t spoken out about it publicly.
Rayudu shared that players, while respecting Dhoni’s status, often find it challenging when the crowd seems more focused on seeing Dhoni bat rather than supporting the entire team. “…but internally, a lot of people used to feel that the crowd, even though we also love MS Dhoni, and they also love MS Dhoni and we want to see him bat, but sometimes when you, as an individual, are going out to bat, they are shouting from the crowd to… literally asking you to get out. Or they are anticipating or expecting you to get out,” Rayudu said.
He added, “So it is quite strange, and I don’t think it actually serves the game well to be very honest. All the (other) players are giving their best for the team as well, and they have put in a lot of sacrifice to be where they are. When things like that happen from their own crowd, I feel, maybe it can be avoided.”
While Rayudu is quick to recognize Dhoni’s unmatched superstar status, he also expressed concerns about the future of the team once Dhoni retires. “CSK have not built up any other guy in the franchise to pull the crowds, because it has always revolved around MS Dhoni. That might come back to maybe bite them in terms of branding or getting the crowds in,” Rayudu warned.
Rayudu emphasized the need for fans to support other key players, such as Ravindra Jadeja, who has been an integral part of CSK’s success in recent seasons. “It is hard to challenge the number of fans that are present there and ask them to support your players. But that’s what any good crowd would generally do – support the team, support the players, and especially Jadeja, who has done so well in the recent past for the franchise, who has won some crucial games,” Rayudu said.
Rayudu also touched upon the lack of initiative from Dhoni to address the situation, though he believes Dhoni is the only one who can balance the fan expectations. “I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do for him as well. Because all of them are rooting for the franchise as well. Maybe he thought it was prudent not to. It’s just the culture. We are in awe of these superstars. I don’t think it should change, but there should be a balance, especially in a team game. Because there are also other individuals who are affected by it. The best person who can address that is Dhoni himself,” Rayudu concluded.
