England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, commended the immense fan following of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, likening the fervour around them to the atmosphere of a Taylor Swift concert. Dhoni, having retired as India’s most triumphant captain, and Kohli, continually etching his name in cricket history by achieving the milestone of 50 ODI centuries, are set to clash in the 2024 IPL season opener as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22.
Reflecting on the popularity of the Indian stalwarts, Buttler acknowledged Dhoni’s unparalleled success in the IPL, steering CSK to five titles. Kohli’s journey, beginning under Dhoni’s captaincy during India’s 2011 ODI World Cup victory, later assuming leadership across all formats in 2017, further solidifies their iconic status.
Jos Buttler said: “There’s that sort of fantasy around the IPL and the way the fans are is, like I say, unmatched. There’s guys like Dhoni and Kohli, when these guys walk on the field, it is probably like 10-year-olds at a Taylor Swift concert. It’s unbelievable, the noise that people create just to see them, you know? They are not even playing, they’re just walking out onto the field.”
“Travelling through the airports there’s security all around them, guys trying to just take a selfie or get close to them. They are A-list celebs out there and the following they have. Obviously, now with social media and the influence they have is incredible. So, it’s cool to see a bit of that.”
Buttler, while embracing the admiration cricketers receive, confessed to occasionally seeking refuge from the spotlight throughout his career. Despite being among the most revered cricketers globally, the 33-year-old clinched the Orange Cap in IPL 2022 and led England to triumph in the T20 World Cup the same year.
“The fans are next level for cricketers and especially the big Indian stars” – Jos Buttler
However, his aspirations for success faltered as England faced a dismal performance in the ODI World Cup, failing to secure a semi-final berth.
Buttler further added: “At times you want to shut yourself away in your room and just hide away. Obviously, we don’t have it to the level those guys I mentioned do. But it’s also cool to get that sort of recognition and feel like a bit of a rockstar. So, yeah, the fans are next level for cricketers and especially the big Indian stars, they really do idolise them.”
Looking ahead, Buttler anticipates returning to action as Rajasthan Royals (RR) kick off their 2024 IPL campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 24. As he prepares to engage in the fray, Buttler’s admiration for Dhoni and Kohli’s adoration among fans mirrors the electric ambience akin to a star-studded concert, underscoring the allure and grandeur of cricket’s premier athletes.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.