The former CSK player Ambati Rayudu feels that Fans’ fixation over the Chennai crowd towards MS Dhoni isn’t serving the game and the other CSK players well ahead of the high-stakes encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 season.
He mentioned that while the Chennai crowd is known for its deep understanding of the game, their passion often revolves around Dhoni.
When CSK batting at Chepauk, fans eagerly wait for Dhoni to come out, and each fallen wicket adds excitement.
Rayudu shared that for new players, this atmosphere can be overwhelming. The crowd’s energy is incredible, but it is clear that many fans support MS Dhoni and CSK second.
He said that Dhoni has been the face of the years and has led CSK with great success. Ambati Rayudu acknowledged that MS Dhoni has earned his legendary status and fan’s love for him is understandable.
“It is quite daunting if you’re a newcomer,” said Rayudu. “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. 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.”
However, Rayudu has highlighted that several players who shined haven’t spoke publicly. He explained that while everyone in the team, including himself, deeply respects and admires MS Dhoni, the crowd’s extreme focus on him sometimes affects other players.
Ambati Rayudu has pointed out that when a CSK batter walks out to bat instead of cheering for them, sections of the crowd start looking forward to when they will get out so that Dhoni can come in.
“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,” Rayudu added.
He also expressed that this kind of behaviour is unusal and not beneficial for the game. Rayudu said that he can understand the affection for Dhoni can be avoided because they can affect the morale and confidence of the other players.
“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. They are also preparing and doing really well for the franchise, and they have put in a lot of sacrifice to be where they are. When things like that happen from their own crowd, it is, I feel, maybe it can be avoided,” Ambati Rayudu concluded.
CSK and RCB will play the IPL 2025 season match on March 28 at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
