We are the Champions!!

We, err, I mean, CSK are the Champions of this year's CLT20, and I couldn't be happier.

I have been following cricket ever since I was three years old. There was something about this game that fascinated me. I grew up watching Sachin, Dravid and Dada play. I used to like them, I loved them, infact; but I couldn't call myself their fan. I just couldn't visualize me fangirling over anybody. But everything changed once a smart and handsome man with long and dyed locks, who was in his early twenties, entered the picture. 

Yes, I am talking about MS Dhoni, India's most successful Captain. There was something about him which instantly enamored me. I was only 9 years then. I didn't fall for him because of his looks, of course. He is absolutely dashing, but thats not why I started adoring him. I loved him for his simplicity, for his cool demeanor on and off the field, for the warmth that he exuded, for his humility, for his million dollar smile and ofcourse, for his batting and wicket-keeping. Until I became his fan, I used to follow cricket, but not with great zeal, partly because I lost interest in it after our 2003 World Cup Final debacle. But MSD changed that. I started keeping a track of all of India's matches with renewed vigor. I derived pleasure from his successes, and prayed for his success during his not-so good days.

                                      

Then, in 2007, he gave me one more reason to like him. He won the very first edition of ICC's T20 World Cup. And then India went gaga over him. Most people have confessed that they started liking him after his success at the World Cup. But I became his fan much before that! 

He then went on to achieve spectacular success, by winning WC 2011, the Border Gavaskar Trophy, and Champions Trophy among many others. This does not mean that he didn't have his share of failures. He is a human being, after all. But more often than not, he would return home triumphant after a series. He was nicknamed 'The man with the Midas Touch'. Amidst his unparalleled success at the International front. he performed delightfully well in the Domestic front too, better known as IPL.

 IPL took the cricketing world by storm. The idea of seeing their favourite players lock horns with each other somehow appealed to everyone. Different teams representing the various states/cities of India were formed and were welcomed with roaring success. MSD, luckily, was picked by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after many rounds of bidding. Everyone wanted to have him in their side, but Chennai won the bidding battle. He instantly became every Chennaiite's darling. This also, unfortunately, ledto him earning a lot of haters that supported other teams. But haters (are) gonna hate, right? 

His winning streak continued in IPL too, as he helped CSK reach the knockout stage in every single season. Under his able captaincy, CSK reached 5 out of 7 finals and won 2 of them in a row, in 2011 and 2012. Isn't that pretty impressive? He also helped CSK win a Champions League T20 title. But that was back in 2010. After that, in spite of giving near-meticulous performance match after match, sadly, my team never managed to bag a title in T20 again.

This year, however, finally all of CSK's fans' dreams came true. We were longing to see Mahi ( MSD is affectionately addressed as Mahi ) lift that glorious cup for three long years. And that happened this October, on the 4th. CSK registered a thumping victory over KKR to win its second CLT20 trophy, thereby becoming the ONLY team to have won both the IPL and CLT20 twice! That is not surprising, considering that the team was led by a someone who is the FIRST and the LAST captain in the world to win all three of ICC's major titles: t20 WC in 2007, 50 over WC in 2011 and Champions Trophy in 2013. However, since this articles is not about Dhoni, I haven't written about all of his achievements. I intend on writing one about him soon, so keep watching this space!!

Coming back to where I left, CSK gave us immense happiness by winning the CLT20 this year. This team is not just any other sports franchise; its a part of our lives. The players are a part of our families. Dhoni, is not like my brother; he IS my brother. ( So don't question my intentions! :p ) 

Every time theres a league match, I flood twitter with posts. I just cant help cheering for this splendid team that has given me so many memories to cherish. Apart from being the most consistent team, it also is the most well-behaved team, both on and off the field. So, along with entertaining us, it also has taught us that you should neither let success get to your head, nor failure get to your heart; that you must stay grounded no matter how very successful you are; and that persistence is the key to success.

I am so proud to call myself a fan of this absolutely marvellous team. Rooting for any other team is just out of question. Forever a CSKian!!

   

   

Images sourced from Google.