IPL 2020: An Open Letter to MS Dhoni from a CSK fan

Dear Mahi,

Life is so fleeting and transient isn’t it?

There was a time when you would walk into the IPL like a boss, annihilating every opponent with nonchalance. There was fire in the way your side lorded over the IPL, while you remained like ice, cool and calm, almost zen-like.

Ten playoff finishes in 10 attempts is no joke, but you almost made it a norm, isn’t it?

If Chennai participates in the IPL, they were sure to at least finish in the top four.

Such was the stature of your side, such was the stature of the skipper, who orchestrated the success of the ‘yellow brigade’ like a Grand Master. Every move of yours amazed the cricketing world and brought you and your side unprecedented success.

But then, all that has come crashing down this season Mahi. Your team is now in shambles, our Thala has been dismal with the bat and the team is looking clueless. The side is accused of not even showing intent in a competitive game.

Yes, one bad season is expected. But, how did it turn out to be this abysmal?

We had waited for 14 months to see you

The last time we saw you on the cricket field before the 13th edition of the IPL was on 10th July 2019. None of us can forget that apocalyptic day. We saw with moist eyes, as our Thala walked back, with his head bent down after that throw from Martin Guptill caught you short of the crease.

You then went into the wilderness for more than a year, leaving the cricketing world to speculate about your future. But then, just when we thought that a good performance in the 13th edition of the IPL might still possibly open the door for your national return, you stumped us by walking away from the international arena on the occasion of our 74th  Independence Day.

So, the IPL became ‘extra special’ for us. It was our chance to see our Thala after 14 months on the field. Our excitement knew no bounds, and our hearts skipped a beat when we saw you for the first time on the field in more than a year. But then, what has happened over the last 5 weeks has left us absolutely dumbfounded Mahi.

The all-conquering Chennai side has been decimated this season. Our Mahi, for the first time, has looked clueless.

So, we should be contended only with memories of the past I guess

But then, you have given us a myriad of memories Mahi. That brisk walk, that adjustment of the gloves before the assault, that helicopter that sailed into the crowd, those innumerable lightning-quick stumpings, those tactical moves, your enchanting smile after yet another conquering act will forever be etched in our memories.

That brutal assault on Irfan Pathan in Dharamshala seems like yesterday Mahi. It almost seemed that the game was slipping away, but you brought us back from the brink. And, that final knockout blow on the Punjab side, when the ball was sent into orbit, that rare show of emotion from ‘Captain Cool’ is something that would be engraved in our hearts. That the snow-capped mountains acted as the backdrop to all this only adds more radiance to that Houdini Act of yours.

Then, came that scintillating  70* against Bangalore almost a decade later, in 2018. It was our Mahi at his vintage best. You went out there on a mission, decimating every challenge that came your way. The opposition had scored 205, but you took us over the line single-handedly.

My mind wanders to the MA Chidambaram stadium and what transpired on 31st March 2019. That last over savagery against Jaydev Unadkat is fresh in our minds Mahi. The last three balls of the 20th over disappeared in three different directions into the crowd as you resurrected the innings with a rampaging 75* off just 46 balls.

I almost get the feeling that I am writing the eulogy now. The end seems near, and all that we can be contended with are the memories.

We don’t want to see you next year

It is with a very heavy heart that I say this. We don’t want to see you next year. We don’t want to see an immortal icon look extremely mortal, beaten, and bruised by the ravages of Father Time. We don’t want to see fingers pointed at you, and a monarch being brought down in such a tame manner so abruptly, with the crown snatched away from him.

Hope I don’t see you next year….

Yours Truly

An ardent CSK fan