The former CSK batter feels that only Dhoni himself can convince the crowd to change their ways
A few fans of Chennai Super Kings were furious at Rachin Ravindra despite his unbeaten half-century that led the team to a victory over Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 opener. The reason: "Why did he not let MS Dhoni hit the winning runs?" (Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
Fans asked this question to Ravindra on social media due to their love to watch Dhoni bat. However, this love is turning into obsession and former CSK batter Ambati Rayudu is certainly not happy about it.
"It is quite strange, and I don't think it actually serves the game well. 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. It is quite evident, and rightly so, because that's the way the team has been set up and built over the years," Rayudu told ESPNCricinfo.
Rayudu said that even in CSK some players felt that the crowd wanted other batters to get out so that they could see Dhoni bat.
"It's been happening for quite a few years now, and quite a few players have felt it over the years., you know, if not come out openly and said something about it, 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," said Rayudu.
The former CSK batter feels that only Dhoni himself can convince the crowd to change their ways.
"The best person who can address that is MS Dhoni himself. If he comes out and says, 'they are all our players, and just like me batting they are batting in the middle', or something like that to soothe the crowd, it will be great for the players," he said.