Ambati Rayudu believes the intense fan focus on MS Dhoni at Chepauk, while understandable, can sometimes overshadow the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team as a whole and create pressure for other players.
While Chennai’s crowd is often hailed as one of the most knowledgeable and passionate in the country, their loyalty leans heavily towards Dhoni. At CSK games, the atmosphere shifts dramatically every time a wicket falls, with the crowd visibly and vocally anticipating Dhoni’s arrival at the crease—almost reminiscent of the Sachin Tendulkar era in Indian Test cricket, when the fall of the second wicket meant one thing: the Little Master was about to bat.
“It can be quite overwhelming, especially for newer players,” Rayudu told ESPNcricinfo. “The support is immense, but over time, you realise they are MS Dhoni fans before they are CSK fans. And rightfully so—he’s been the face of the franchise, rightly called ‘Thala,’ and he’s been leading CSK from the front for years.”
Rayudu, a long-time CSK player, admitted that several players over the years have felt the effects of this one-man fandom—though few have spoken about it publicly.
“A lot of players, even though they love MS and want to see him bat too, have felt that pressure. Imagine walking out to bat and hearing chants for someone else, or even calls from the stands hoping you get out just so Dhoni can come in. It’s strange and honestly, not great for the game or for the players who are working just as hard and sacrificing just as much for the team.”
He feels that CSK may have become overly reliant on Dhoni’s brand value.
“They haven’t built up any other player in the team as a crowd-puller. It’s always been about Dhoni. And when he eventually retires, that could hit them hard—whether in terms of fan engagement or branding. They’ll need to think creatively to maintain that connection with the fans.”
While Rayudu doesn’t fault the fans’ love for Dhoni—comparing it to the adoration fans have had for Tendulkar or Virat Kohli—he wonders if Dhoni himself could help shift the narrative.
“It’s difficult to tell a passionate crowd how to behave. But ideally, they should back all players. Take someone like [Ravindra] Jadeja, who has delivered crucial wins for CSK. He deserves equal support,” Rayudu said. “Whether Dhoni chooses to address this or not is up to him. He never has before. Maybe he feels it isn’t his place. But if he did say something like, ‘Support every player like you support me,’ it could really help the team.”
As for life after Dhoni? Rayudu acknowledges the challenge it will pose.
“His retirement, whenever it happens, won’t just impact the team but the entire franchise. The crowds, even on weekdays, turn up in huge numbers because of him. No other player comes close in terms of fan pull. CSK will really need to plan ahead—maybe reinvent how they engage fans—once Dhoni steps away.”
