'MS Dhoni is not bigger than the game' - Twitter reacts after an official expresses disappointment over MS Dhoni not playing in Chennai

Indian Premier League (IPL) is returning home this year. The last edition of the competition had to be held in the UAE due to the pandemic. But with the situation improving in the country, the BCCI has decided to host the tournament at home. The Indian cricket board has already announced the schedule for the tournament.

IPL 2021 is scheduled to start on April 9 with a mouthwatering clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore and finish on May 30 with the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. As expected, the tournament is not being played in a normal manner as far as the home and away format is concerned.

In normal circumstances, all eight teams play seven games at home and seven away. But due to the pandemic, IPL 2021 will be held at just six venues – Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore. As a result, none of the franchises will be allowed home-ground advantage during the season. The fans are not allowed inside the stadium either although the decision could be reconsidered depending on the situation.

Fans slam team official for ‘putting Dhoni over tournament’

The way the schedule has been drafted, the IPL has ensured that no team gets to play at home this year. There are several reasons behind it. The first one is that it ensures parity on the field for all teams as none of them will have a home advantage. Secondly, it also ensures none of them get an advantage of brand activation over the other, given that the home venues of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings were not considered for hosting the games, according to Cricbuzz.

And while the majority of the fans and experts have welcomed the new format, there are some who are not very convinced with the same. One such franchise official recently criticized the format and expressed his disappointment over MS Dhoni not getting a chance to play in Chennai in a season that could potentially be his last.

“You are denying MS Dhoni to play his potential last IPL in Chennai. If there are to be no crowds, what stops CSK to play in Chennai and Mumbai Indians to play in Mumbai,” the official told Cricbuzz.

Well, the official’s concerns about Dhoni and venue have not gone down well with some fans. Soon after his comments became public, the fans took to Twitter to slam him for putting Dhoni ahead of the tournament.

Here are some of the reactions: