CSK Fans Urge BCCI to Host IPL Game in Ranchi as Tribute to 'Thala' MS Dhoni – News18

A Chennai Super Kings fan page has urged BCCI to schedule a fixture of their franchise in Ranchi during IPL 2024 to honour their skipper MS Dhoni. With the upcoming edition of the IPL potentially being Dhoni’s last, several fans have been making suggestions on how they can provide a special tribute to the five-time winner of the tournament. In a similar suggestion, a fan page has written on X, “Dear BCCI, IPL, How about a Chennai Super Kings match in Ranchi? It would be an awesome experience for all fans to see Thala step out and lead CSK in an IPL game this year in #Ranchi. Please make it happen”.

Chennai Super Kings’ most recent IPL tournament victory came last year against then-defending champions Gujarat Titans. In that match, things looked dire for CSK after GT had put up 214 runs in the first innings. In the second half, the target was reduced to 171 runs by the DLS method because of rainfall. A couple of crucial knocks from Devon Conway and Ravindra Jadeja helped CSK cross the finish line for a fifth time with Dhoni at the helm.

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Having beaten the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, MS Dhoni revealed in the post-game interview that he would still be hanging around for at least one more season. As per several media outlets, this is what he said – “This is the best time to announce my retirement. But the amount of love and affection I have been shown wherever I have been this year, the easy thing would be for me to say ‘Thank you very much’ but the tough thing for me is to work hard for another 9 months and come back and play at least 1 more season of IPL.” While saying that the fans deserved one more season, Dhoni acknowledged that the upcoming season would depend a lot on his fitness. “A lot depends on the body, I have 6-7 months to decide”, the CSK skipper said in the same conference.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most decorated captains in cricket history. The iconic wicketkeeper-batter has led India to multiple ICC trophy triumphs in his career. Speaking of his IPL career, Dhoni has played a total of 250 games in the competition while scoring 5082 runs. He boasts an average of 38.79 in these matches. He will now be hunting for a sixth crown in the upcoming 2024 edition of the tournament. However, we are yet to hear if this would officially be his last season in the IPL.