‘Thala Forever’: MS Dhoni leaves MA Chidambaram Stadium wondering if this is goodbye

It’s been over a year since MS Dhoni last made an appearance at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as an active cricketer. And just under a year since CSK’s 83-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, their final game of the 18th IPL season and Dhoni’s last appearance as a cricketer at any level of the sport.

It’s also been nearly six years since ‘Captain Cool’ called time on his international career on Independence Day 2020. But unlike his run with the Indian team, his future in the Indian Premier League remains in a perpetual state of uncertainty, with Dhoni still part of CSK’s squad despite being in his mid-forties.

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That state of uncertainty has heightened even further in the ongoing IPL season, with discussions surrounding Dhoni’s retirement from all forms gaining steam. The legendary wicketkeeper-batter, after all, has been confined to the bench the entire season due to a calf strain, despite making appearances at practice sessions.

An entire season spent on the sidelines

On Monday, CSK fans were hopeful of watching Dhoni in action at Chepauk for the final time this season, and perhaps for the last time ever. The Super Kings, after all, were hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final home game of the season with a place in the playoffs on the line.

The mystery surrounding Dhoni’s participation was the single biggest topic heading into the match, which is perhaps why Ravi Shastri directly asked CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad the question that was on everyone’s lips, whether present at the venue or watching on TV sets and other devices elsewhere.

“I have to ask you that question. MS Dhoni, where is he? Is he playing?” Shastri asked, sending the Chepauk crowd into a state of frenzy.

Gaikwad, however, replied with an all-too-familiar answer that deflated the crowd a little. “He’s still here, but he’s not fit enough to play this game,” he said after winning the toss and electing to bat.

For the first time in CSK’s rich cricketing history, ‘Thala’ had gone through an entire season without making a single appearance at their home ground. And should he also watch Friday’s game against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad from the sidelines, Dhoni might just end up becoming the most prolific cricketer to not play a single game throughout the tournament despite being part of the squad.

The Chepauk faithful certainly would have been crestfallen at the thought of going through an entire season without catching a single glimpse of their biggest superstar in the flesh. That disappointment was compounded by the Super Kings’ underwhelming performance, which resulted in a second consecutive defeat that has left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Main event takes a backseat for a guest appearance

Then again, CSK’s fans are built differently and are loyal to their franchise and their icons like no other (except perhaps Royal Challengers Bengaluru). And on Monday, they were happy to contend themselves with whatever little glimpse they could get of the man responsible for their five IPL and two Champions League T20 titles.

When Dhoni walked out to the centre along with his teammates for the customary photoshoot that teams usually take in their final home game of the season, the reception that he received sounded just as loud as the ones he’s used to when he walks out to bat.

And when the CSK commenced their lap of honour around Chepauk after the conclusion of the post-match presentation ceremony, it was almost as if the yellow-clad spectators in the stands forgot about the defeat and the fact that their team is on the verge of failing to reach the playoffs for the third season in a row.

In that moment, all that mattered was MS Dhoni and MS Dhoni alone. He may have stepped down from the role of captaincy and is a shadow of his former self as a player, but there’s little doubt over the fact that Dhoni remains the face of the franchise and the leader of the locker room. And the way Dhoni was being showered with love from the stands during the lap around the venue was a testament to that fact.

It was also fitting for Dhoni to reunite with long-time India and CSK teammate Suresh Raina, who had followed him into international retirement back in August 2020, during this post-match activity. ‘Chinna Thala’, after all, makes a strong argument for being the greatest CSK star after ‘Thala’ himself. And if indeed it was Dhoni’s final appearance at Chepauk, the symbolism of this reunion will likely be talked about for years to come.

The cherry on the cake was a tifo that read “Thala Forever”, unveiled on the upper tier of one of the stands, a reminder from the fans that Chepauk was his home, even if he happened to reside in Ranchi.

Is this really it for ‘Thala’?

Despite the emotionally-charged evening at Chepauk, one must still take it with a grain of salt, considering Dhoni’s recent history. Such scenes, after all, were commonplace throughout the 2023 season, which the entire Indian cricketing community at the time had believed was his swansong. Batting legend and veteran commentator Sunil Gavaskar even had Dhoni sign his shirt during a similar lap around Chepauk in their last home game of the season. And when Dhoni walked on to the stage to receive the glittering trophy after leading his team to a thrilling victory in the final against GT, a retirement announcement seemed imminent.

Three years later, a giant question mark continues to hang over Dhoni’s IPL future. But if this indeed is it as far as his time donning the yellow jersey is concerned, then Chepauk certainly did its part in giving him a fitting farewell.