While a section of Twitterati trended #DhoniDropped day before yesterday, the same day when Mahendra Singh Dhoni, yet again, failed to make a mark after he got out LBW to Ravindra Jadeja, scoring 5 off 8, the former India Captain found unconditional support as his fans have been trending #WeStandByDhoni since yesterday, in a bid to firmly rally behind the Indian limited overs cricket legend.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has had a terrible time so far, with poor on-field performance and unnecessary off-the-field controversies surrounding him. It all started with Sanjiv Goenka, the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) skipper, making a shock announcement that the Team Management had decided to replace MS Dhoni as the leader of the side with Steven Smith, the Australian Captain. It stirred up a huge controversy even as the RPS Team Management and Sanjiv Goenka were at the receiving end of Dhoni’s fans’ anger. As if this wasn’t enough, right after RPS’s first game against MI where Smith helped finish the game with two sixes, something MSD has been known for, even as MSD, unfortunately, struggled at the other end, Harsh Goenka, owner Sanjiv Goenka’s brother, made a controversial tweet, which, as far as our opinion is concerned, was in poor light. The ire of the fans reached a crescendo after that and Harsh Goenka quickly took the Tweet down.
Later, even as MSD’s ordinary run in the IPL 10 continued, Sourav Ganguly said “while MSD is a champion in ODI’s, the same can’t be said about T20s. He isn’t a good T20 player. While Dada’s statement wasn’t as senseless as Harsh Goenka’s, it still wasn’t accurate, especially considering MSD’s fantastic record in International T20s and IPL. We even did a detailed article regarding the same. When MSD failed for the third time on the trot, a section of Twitterati indulged in mindless criticism and bashed the former Captain, stoking the rumour that MSD would be dropped my trending #DhoniDropped. It wasn’t a good sight to see, especially considering the laurels the same Mahendra Singh Dhoni has brought to the Country.
As if pitching in for a rescue operation, Dhoni’s fans came up with the hashtag #WeStandByDhoni and started tweeting. The hashtag was quickly trending and still continues to, even as the outpouring of love towards Dhoni continues and keeps gaining traction.
While it’s ok to criticise a player for his poor performance, we at CricShots believe that fans shouldn’t cross a certain line. It’s ok to criticise players, it’s absolutely rubbish to crucify them.
Chennai Super Kings’s Tweet was the most heartening. It’s worth mentioning that BCCI recently announced they were set to welcome the Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings back into the IPL. MS Dhoni, with Chennai Super Kings, won the IPL twice having made it to the finals for a record six times, the now defunct Champions Trophy once and thus scripted his name in the annals of the IPL.
