NEW DELHI: MS Dhoni is more than just a cricketer—he is an emotion for millions of fans across India, particularly in Chennai. Revered as Thala by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters, Dhoni commands an enormous fan following. Whenever he walks out to bat, the crowd erupts in thunderous applause, and the sea of yellow in the stands becomes a spectacle. The sound decibel often shoots up as fans lose control just to catch a glimpse of their beloved Thala.Whether CSK are playing at home in Chennai or away, Dhoni’s presence alone guarantees full stadiums and electrifying atmospheres. His composed nature, exceptional leadership, and unmatched finishing ability have earned him deep respect and unwavering support from fans.Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh summed up the devotion perfectly when he said, “If any cricketer has real fans, it’s Dhoni. The rest are paid.”His remark highlights the genuine affection Dhoni commands from his supporters.

“Kitna bacha hua hai aur jab tak dum hai khelo bhai. Meri team hoti to shayad main kuch aur decision leta,” Harbhajan said on JioStar.“Aur seedhi si baat hai fan to chahenge kyunki unke fan jo hai. Mujhe lagta hai ki sabse zyada fan agar asal wale fan jo hai wo unke hi hai (CSK). Baaki to ye bane banaye hai jo aajkal social media aadha to paid hi chalta hai par ye inke fan jo hai wo asali hai. Inke jo fan hai wo sahi mein fan hai. Baaki yahan wahan jo aap number dekhte ho wo chhodiye number unke upar kabhi baithenge to charcha karenge,” he added.“MS Dhoni iss baar dekhein to accha khele hain, theek thaak khele,” the former spinner further remarked.Meanwhile, things haven’t gone CSK’s way over the past two seasons. The five-time IPL champions failed to reach the playoffs in 2024 and endured another underwhelming campaign in IPL 2025. In fact, they became the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention this season.