12,000 fans at an event is a fairly large number. It’s an attendance figure at par for most sporting contests.
But 12,000 fans for an intra-squad practice match? Well, that’s Chennai Super Kings for you!
There was a lot of fandom – and a lot of noise – as the defending champions took to the iconic Chepauk stadium in Chennai on Sunday, 17 March, to kick-start their preparations for IPL 2019, which gets underway on Saturday, 23 March.
But for a sample of the frenzy – and just what this team, and its captain, means to the Super Kings faithful – take a look at how Chepauk greeted ‘Thala’ MS Dhoni.
(Warning: Get your headphones on – it’s a treat for the ears. But not so much for the eardrums!)
Can ‘Thala’ MSD & Co. Do It Again?
It was a dream return to the IPL for CSK after serving out a two-year ban for corruption in 2016 and 2017; while they only got to play one game in front of their home crowd, the ‘Whistle Podu Army’ made it to most grounds across India as the Super Kings roared loudest to lift the IPL 2018 crown – making Chennai the joint-most successful team in IPL history with three titles.
A week ahead of launching their title defense, which begins against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in what is the season opener for the 12th edition of the competition, the holders kicked off their preparations with a net session followed by a practice match.
Three stands were opened to the public with free entry for the fans, and that meant all three sections – stands C, D and E at the MA Chidambaram Stadium – were packed to the rafters.
Though captain Dhoni didn’t feature in the ‘match’, he was greeted by deafening cheers each time he made an appearance. The 37-year-old played to the galleries by sending deliveries into the stands from the nets at regular intervals.
None of the overseas stars in the Chennai squad were present on the day, but the local lads played one half of a T20 game, with a sub-team christened ‘Batting Lions’ having a hit in the park.
Murali Vijay (32) and Ambati Rayudu (40) were among the runs at the top of the order, while the hugely-popular Suresh Raina (check the video above if you need evidence!) smashed 56.
Some quick runs from youngster Dhruv Shorey (40* off 24 balls) propelled the ‘Batting Lions’ to 199 in their 20 overs.
Captain Dhoni, meanwhile, was clearly in high spirits – even entertaining an intruder from the stands while in the nets.
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