CSK fans to still bleed yellow

Chennai

This time there will be an Indian Premier League, but without the Chennai Super Kings. The team will be wearing new jerseys. Dhoni said at a press meet that though he was playing for Pune, he’d miss CSK. “After eight years of IPL, it feels very different to play for any other team. All of a sudden, if you want me to say that I am very excited to play for a new team, not give credit to CSK and the fans for the love and affection they have given us; that would be wrong.”

That’s what makes Dhoni so special to Chennaiites. Every time he stepped into the MA Chidambaram stadium, the crowd chanted his name in unison and the man never disappointed them. Not just he, but players like Suresh Raina, R. Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo and Faf du Plessis made CSK a firebrand team.

Now Dhoni, Ashwin and du Plessis are playing for Rising Pune Supergiants and the Gujarat Lions have Raina, Jadeja, McCullum and Bravo.

“It’s like the family has been divided into two,” says Saravanan, who calls himself a super fan as he paints himself yellow and inscribes Dhoni’s name on himself before every match. He is arguably the face of CSK’s fanbase. “Dhoni is our Thala and we will support him no matter which team he plays for. Around 200 of us are planning to collect money, Rs 1,700 each, which includes ticket costs, and go to Bengaluru to support Pune and Rajkot. I will still be in yellow, the CSK trademark colour, and cheer for Dhoni,” he says.
 
Many Chennai supporters have planned to root for Pune just to show their support for the Indian skipper. “Usually during the IPL, I watch the matches in a group and support Chennai. Even though our team isn’t playing, we will wear the yellow jersey and support Dhoni,” says Aditya C.

Even stores that sell CSK merchandise are surprised that there are people still buying the yellow jersey. S Mariappan, who owns a store on Walajah Road, says, “Our stock of CSK jerseys was lying untouched, but now, there are a few fans asking for them. However, we are also receiving enquiries for the Pune team’s shirts.”