What MS Dhoni means to a cricket-mad India?

'Dhoni finishes off in style'
These words by Ravi Shastri are etched in every Indian cricket lover's memory and as the legendary MSD approaches the twilight of his IPL career, this phrase will soon hold true again, this time quite literally.

They say that the memory of a cricket fan is short-lived and people tend to forget the past way too quickly but not when it's about MS Dhoni.

Ever since a teary-eyed Mahi walked off the international stage after India's heartbreaking defeat at the 2019 World Cup semi-final, the country has been lining up to get a glimpse of its favourite son back in action in the IPL.

From stadiums covered in yellow no matter where the Chennai Super Kings play, to people eagerly waiting for the IPL to start, not to see their favourite team compete but to watch Dhoni pick up the bat once again, proves that MSD has attained the status of a demigod.

Mahi's craze is not just limited to Chennai but fans flock the stadiums around the country just to get a glimpse of Dhoni. No team ever experiences their supporters cheering a fall of wicket unless it's CSK. Fans celebrate when their own batter gets out in anticipation of MSD walking out to bat.

More than the batter and the wicketkeeper, Dhoni the captain has set standards so high that the current lot is finding it tough to get anywhere close to it. However, when Mahi decided to pass on the captaincy baton ahead of IPL 2024, it was a sign of things to come.

Some players leave behind their legacy but then there's Dhoni, who is carrying his legacy with the bat season after season just to give back to his fans. Even if that requires him to battle knee pain and defy age, MSD does that with a smile.

Mahi Fandom is not just limited to the cricket field. Driving a car may not be unusual for most but when Dhoni takes out his toys in Ranchi, it becomes news. Not just that, MSD once gave lift to a budding cricketer after practice in his hometown and that dominated headlines. His looks, particularly his hairstyles, have been trending ever since Dhoni debuted back in 2004.

From starting off with long hair to chopping it down after the 2007 T20 World Cup to shaving them off completely after winning the 2011 ODI World Cup, his hairstyle has been a trendsetter. 20 years later, Dhoni once again donned the CSK jersey with flowing hair this year and it indicated that life has come full circle for the nation's darling.

Virat Kohli may have dominated records but Dhoni dominated hearts. Sachin Tendulkar may be India's god but Mahi is the reason for people to worship this sport in a cricket-mad nation.