Saturday 15 July 2017

The Return of CSK - A fan who admires from outside !!

        Back in 2015 a team which made to the final of the most celebrated T20 league in the world and another team which was always known for its fair play and grooming young talents ever since a guy nick named 'Gentleman' took over were banned from the league for two years because, few individuals of the team and the franchise management were proven guilty of spot fixing.

        It was two individuals who wore the stature of those teams to the world. Though Rahul Dravid had retired in 2013 he was much the face of Rajastan Royals even while mentoring the team in 2015. Like in their playing days, even when on their return there is no fuss about them. It is not sure whether Rahul will be coming back to franchise yet. There are that kind of a franchise doing the job without any fuss, they always have.

       Then there is "CSK". The Chennai Super Kings was an emotion more than just a franchise. They are the exact opposite to the kind of franchise RR has been. They have been the buzz of the IPL for seasons. And there was a man holding the team for 8 years. MS DHONI- inevitably he has been the face of the franchise. And the people of Tamil Nadu celebrated him as their own like they have celebrated their heroes and like nobody in the world could do.

       We celebrated him and the franchise as if almost everything in the cricketing world happens because of him and the team. There were a few friends of mine who will be literally shouting "CCCSSSKK DAA" even during India matches when players of the franchise appears on screen. This almost created a hatred and jealousy among those fan who are from Tamil Nadu and support to different franchises for different reasons.

       Being a supporter of Mumbai Indians (basically we are Sachin fans from child hood u Know :P )
it was almost irritating the ways fans of CSK celebrated it. But not once I have failed to admire the team and the franchise for the kind of culture it possesses. As much as anybody would try to disagree, it is a fact that CSK was holding the largest fan base in the country.



               Unlike many other franchises the core players of the team weren't bought and formed. Most players started at CSK and were developed into the core of the team and the captain holded it together. There were unsung heroes for the franchise from time to time. S Badrinath was the saviour of the team in most critical times. The team culture and the consistency they exhibited is almost unbelievable that it will make any genuine cricket fan admire them.




              The love of CSK doesn't end with fans. The players were openly exhibiting it even after they had to depart their ways for couple of years due to inevitable reasons. Its very rare to see such sight in a corporate professional world. And that is what sets CSK apart.




             Almost every other team and their fans wanted to beat CSK. That is the standard and emotional connect the franchise had set even with the opposition and their fans. We have seen some extraordinary cricket in the past two years, make no mistake. But it was the emotional connect that was being missed by the fans of the rivalries as much as those of CSK.





       MS  Dhoni was the heart of CSK. The love for the franchise is unbelievable that in the past two years fans have been just counting down for the day the ban will be lifted. #thereturnofCSK has been trending all the while even when they weren't playing. With MS no longer the captain at Pune and the franchise being ready to grab him at any cost the fans were just waiting for the return of CSK.  And as July 14 passed by, its been two years since the ban was imposed. The ban is lifted now and celebration has already stared in social media.




                            https://twitter.com/MirchiMemes/status/885594197591445504

           Having grown up in the early 2000 I have been used to love a team that wore blue jersey and admire a team with yellow jersey for all their good on the field. It was the same case at the IPL as well. Being from Tamil Nadu and as a fan of Mumbai Indians I have never failed to admire the charm,  joy and the emotion the Chennai Super Kings have provided. And I just can't wait for the celebrations to begin and to see "THALA" MS DHONI back in yellow again. Well, at least he has already provided that for time being.


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