IPL 2023: “I keep hearing Mahi bhai’s chants, they wait for me to get out,” Ravindra Jadeja on fans’ excitement for Dhoni

The echoes of ‘Dhoni, Dhoni’ reverberate throughout the stands whenever the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lose three wickets, and these chants grow even louder with each passing over or fall of another wicket.

This unmistakably demonstrates the deep love and admiration that fans have for Dhoni, highlighting the lasting impact he has made on the game. Despite almost three years passing since his retirement, fans continue to flock to stadiums in order to catch a glimpse of Dhoni.

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However, this can also create additional pressure for those batting in the middle order or those walking out to bat ahead of Dhoni.

In the IPL 2023 season, Jadeja has consistently taken the crease before Dhoni in almost every match. Even players like Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali have been batting ahead of Dhoni, as the CSK captain has been content with batting at number seven or lower.

Although Dhoni has never been particularly eager to bat higher up the order, this year, given the remarkable form he has displayed with the bat, there is a popular demand to see the legendary cricketer take on a higher batting position.

Even though Ravindra Jadeja holds the distinction of being the second most experienced player in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lineup, the star all-rounder expressed his dilemma about batting ahead of the iconic captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“It can be quite challenging when you find yourself batting in the middle order of a team where you have someone like MS Dhoni. Despite Dhoni nearing the end of his illustrious career, the fans’ craze and their adoration for him never seem to fade away. Whether CSK is playing at their home ground or elsewhere, a massive crowd gathers just to catch a glimpse of the legendary MS Dhoni,” Jadeja commented after CSK’s victory over the Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.

“Whenever, any player comes to bat ahead of MS Dhoni, fans pray for the player’s dismissal so that Dhoni can come to bat in the field,” he added.

Jadeja also shared his experience, “I keep hearing Mahi bhai’s chants. If I bat higher, then the crowd will wait for me to get out. As long as the team wins, I am happy,” he said when asked in the post-match presentation whether he would want to bat higher.