Monday, April 3rd will be seeing a much-awaited return of the Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni to the MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk, in Chennai.
While most of the teams are happy to play at home as the IPL returns to its traditional home-and-away format for the first time since 2019, CSK have it a special homecoming. CSK won 6 out of 7 matches in the 2019 season here as MS Dhoni and his Yellow Army thrived in the trustful home conditions tailormade for the CSK spinners to run riot.
Another and quite a significant reason for the CSK’s return to Chepauk has tantalized everyone is because the IPL 2023 is in all likelihood the last season for ‘Thala’ Dhoni as a captain and player.
Referred to as ‘Thala’ or ‘Thalia’, MS Dhoni had said last year the reason for him extending to play another season is to play one more time in front of the passionate crowd of Chennai, who will be wishing to give their ‘Thala’ a memorable farewell.
Why is MS Dhoni called Thala or Thalai by CSK Fans?
In the Tamil language, the word ‘Thala’ or ‘Thalai’ means ‘Leader’ or ‘Head’. MS Dhoni is endearingly called ‘Thala’ by CSK fans, while Suresh Raina is called ‘Chinna Thala’ meaning Deputy leader.
Other nickanames of MS Dhoni are Captain Cool, MSD, and Mahi. But for CSK fans, it is only Thala, their leader, their main man, their icon, their Captain.
During the 2019 IPL, in a post-match press conference, Dhoni was asked about his nickname Thala. The Ranchi-born wicketkeeper said that it feels special to have this nickname from the CSK devotees.
“It’s a big nickname that they have given me. It feels really special. I didn’t realize that it was part of the first CSK song. The way I got accepted and the whole of Tamil Nadu — don’t call my name, they call me ‘Thala’. It’s very nice and they have always supported not only me but the whole team,” Dhoni said.
The name #Thala is very special and I'm thankful to the fans for the love bestowed on me 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZN9VTUe0vM
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 1, 2019
