Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Eden Gardens seem to have an eternal connect. Not just international and domestic matches, he has even featured in the local league at this ground. Till Chennai took over, he could well have considered Calcutta as his second home given its proximity to Ranchi and familiarity with the dialect.
The Chennai Super Kings captain has been riding a wave of emotion since the start of this edition’s IPL. No one knows if this would be his last dance at the Eden but this is an opportunity a die-hard fan wouldn’t want to miss.
The yellow army will pose a stiff challenge to the purple flags at Kolkata Knight Riders’ home turf on Sunday evening. Calcuttans would want to soak in every bit of Dhoni even if it means sacrificing the fortunes of their home franchise.
An artist works on a portrait of Mahendra Singh Dhoni outside Eden Gardens on Saturday. Telegraph picture
There was no way CSK would have practised on Saturday following their encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad less than 24 hours earlier but that couldn’t stop the revelry. You just can’t take Dhoni out of CSK and he has always reciprocated that sentiment.
The Dhoni mania outside the Eden briefly gave way to applause for the Knight Riders when the team bus screeched to a halt near the Club House entrance. But there was no missing the fact that the fans were here for their Thala (leader). Even a glimpse would have sufficed but Dhoni and his team were in no mood to visit the stadium after landing around 7pm.
Dhoni last played here in 2019 and the buzz around is not to be missed. A few supporters were seen clicking selfies in front of a Dhoni poster while barely a few metres away there were others joining in the clamour for tickets.
There has still been no official word from Dhoni on his quitting but CSK insiders believe there’s very little chance of any formal announcement. He will move away quietly, without any fanfare or farewell, as he had done when quitting Test, ODI or international cricket.
“Whatever said and done it’s the last phase of my career however long I play,” Dhoni said at the prize distribution after their win against the Sunrisers on Friday.
There was another hint about his plans though. “Once you get old that’s the time you get experienced... Definitely old, you cannot really shy away from that,” Dhoni, who will turn 42 in less than three months, said.
There is also talk that the BCCI decided to push the first two playoffs to Chennai to extend Dhoni’s tryst with the fanbase there, assuming CSK will make it to the knockouts.
With CSK regaining its magic, a fifth title will be the perfect farewell for Brand Dhoni.
