Zaheer Khan, the former Indian pacer, voiced his opinion on EM Dhoni’s sustained popularity, particularly its display in away matches of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Khan opined that as long as Dhoni is playing, even away stadiums will continue to be taken over by CSK fans.
Khan’s statement was in response to a question by a reporter about the “blue sea” of Lucknow Super Giants fans in a home match against CSK. Khan reacted realistically to the question, acknowledging the popularity of Dhoni in huge proportions.
“As long as MS Dhoni is around, yellow will dominate all the stadiums because of the love fans have for him,” Zaheer said.
Reporter: "We want to see a blue sea at Lucknow when CSK will be there."
Zaheer: "As long as MS Dhoni is around, yellow will dominate all the stadiums because of the love fans have for him." 💛@MSDhoni #MSDhoni #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/NCiFMtH6Zq
— DHONI Trends™ (@TrendsDhoni) March 19, 2025
MS Dhoni’s Unwavering Fan Base
At age 43, MS Dhoni is set to embark on the 18th season of IPL. They retained him as an ‘uncapped player’ for ₹4 crores before the mega auction. He appeared at his best last season, scoring 161 runs at a strike rate of above 220, with just three dismissals over the season. It goes without saying that these exploits on the field have only added to his already great popularity.
Zaheer Khan, who has recently become the mentor for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, superseding Gautam Gambhir as LSG’s mentor last August, understands the challenge of competing with Dhoni’s fan base. Khan has noted how the charm of Dhoni has crippled opposing teams from fully utilizing the home advantage.
Dhoni is a crowd-puller, a hero, and an inspirational figure in Indian cricket, and with this kind of popularity, he will surely play a major role in shaping the Indian Premier League as he gets set for his 18th IPL season.
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