MS Dhoni’s enduring popularity among cricket fans was once again evident in the recently concluded IPL 2024, where the former Chennai Super Kings skipper’s presence generated the loudest crowd cheers.
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the IPL, introduced a new feature to measure the excitement level of players and match moments by quantifying the decibel level of crowd cheers. Dhoni’s arrival for the toss against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk in the season opener topped the chart with a decibel level of 130.
Another moment that sent the crowd into a frenzy was when Dhoni smashed a boundary in the 17th over against Delhi Capitals during his unbeaten 16-ball 37 cameo. This marked Dhoni’s first innings with the bat since the IPL 2023 final against Gujarat Titans. The decibel level for this moment reached 128.
Despite Dhoni’s heroics, CSK ultimately lost both matches. However, his performances and the overwhelming crowd support demonstrated his enduring popularity.
Ranked third on the list was Dinesh Karthik’s pre-planned scoop shot off Arshdeep Khan during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s chase against Punjab Kings.
Dhoni’s decision to hand over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the season surprised many. However, his presence on the field continues to captivate fans and generate the loudest cheers.
