Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu has made a strong statement against MS Dhoni’s fanbase. He said Dhoni’s popularity sometimes overshadows other players and affects the game. Rayudu shared his thoughts in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. "It is quite daunting if you're a newcomer. It's quite loud. The support is phenomenal. But as you go on and play, you realize they are MS Dhoni fans before they are CSK fans," Rayudu said.
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He also pointed out that this trend has been ongoing for years. He recalled instances where CSK batters walking to the crease were met with fans openly asking them to get out, which he found disheartening. "It's been happening for quite a few years now. Sometimes, as an individual going out to bat, they are shouting from the crowd, literally asking you to get out. It is quite strange, and I don't think it actually serves the game well," he added.
Dhoni, playing his 18th IPL season, remained unbeaten in the match while Ravindra sealed the win with a six. However, the young all-rounder was abused online by sections of the CSK fan base who wanted Dhoni to finish the game. The veteran has scored 5,243 runs in 265 matches at an average of 39.12 and a strike rate of 137.46. He remains the second-highest run-getter for CSK, behind only Suresh Raina.
