As the ‘Dads’ Army’ celebrated their IPL-11 success on Sunday night, it was hard to miss their brood in tow.
Drenched in golden confetti, the Zivas, Gracias and Hinayas of the ‘Cub Club’ posed with their proud fathers as Chennai Super Kings belted out their dressing room song ‘You gotta get used to being beaten by the boys from Chennai…’ Is there a better way to silence those who constantly mocked Super Kings on social media for investing in older players? Sweet revenge indeed!
CSK’s squad comprises nine players in their 30s, and M.S. Dhoni had to keep reiterating that age is just a number.
And when the curtains fell on IPL-11, few were complaining about CSK’s average age. Shane Watson, set to turn 37 next month, was the hero of the final. Not only did Ambati Rayudu (32) hit CSK’s championship winning run, but also finished as the most consistent batsman with a tally of 602 runs. If it was Faf du Plessis (33) who rescued the team from the jaws of defeat in Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhoni was at his vintage best throughout the season. For CSK, the contribution came from every individual. The fact that eight different players won Man of the Match awards this season underlines the team effort.
“We talked a lot about age but what matters is the fitness,” said Dhoni. “Rayudu for example is 32, he’s someone who is fit, covers a lot of ground. Even if he plays a few games where he spends a lot of time in the ground and in the
field, he never complains. So it is the fitness that really matters more than the age aspect,” said Dhoni.
A brilliant marshal, Dhoni manoeuvred his troupe within their limitations. “For example, if I push Watson to stop a single, there is a very good chance that he’ll burst his hamstring and won’t be available for the next game. So what
you tell yourselves is that they have to commit and try, but there’s no point getting injured for a single,” said Dhoni.
Former India captain Kris Srikkanth said CSK showed their experience whenever the chips were down. “The shots Watson played in the final were all authentic. The way he paced his innings was brilliant; he had to see off Hyderabad’s two best bowlers Bhuvi and Rashid Khan before attacking others,” he added.
Sunday’s victory has earned CSK their third title in seven IPL final appearances. Former Super Kings batsman S. Badrinath says the success can be attributed to their team culture. “There is absolutely no pressure from the management. The franchisee owners would make you feel at home. And when you get team atmosphere like this you will give your 100 per cent,” added Badrinath.
Early Diwali in Chennai
The ‘Thala’ team’s emphatic triumph brought an early celebration of Diwali as fireworks lit up the Chennai sky. Pubs and social clubs that screened the match on giant screen were bursting at the seams. It’s been quite some time since
the city witnessed a widespread festivity. “Some restaurants which usually close at around 11 pm were kept open late, past midnight, just to cash in on the fans crowded here. There were quite a few yellow jerseys on the road,” said Ram
Kumar, a resident of Besant Nagar.
Rousing welcome
Super Kings landed at Chennai airport on Monday afternoon to a rousing welcome. Hordes of fans thronged the arrival gate to get a glimpse of the stars. The players then boarded a bus to reach the team hotel where the franchisee
owners hosted a grand party with select guests.
By virtue of winning the title, Chennai is now eligible to host the final of the 2019 edition. But fans are keeping their fingers crossed as they don’t want another political protest to dash their dream of Super Kings defending their title at
home.
