IPL 2023: How 'Adopted' Sons MS Dhoni And Virat Kohli Brought Cricket Fever Back In Chennai And Bangalore

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IPL is the biggest T20 showpiece event in the world. Period. MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are the biggest poster boys the star-studded league has seen in its 16-year history. Period. Someone trying to disagree with these two statements are just trying to prove themselves smart by making some unpopular opinions.

The popularity of the two superstar cricketers are easy to find out and there to be seen. The viewership on JioCinema touched 17 crore - the highest so far in IPL 2023 - to see Dhoni bat for just three balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday.

He broke his own record of 1.6 crore when he came out to bat in the opener against Gujarat Titans. He stayed on the crease for just seven balls which saw him score 14 not out runs. Moments before the first ball was bowled - the crowd kept on chanting Dhoni and his team CSK's name despite two very glamorous actresses performing in the middle.

The 41-year-old is no more a demigod. He is God equivalent. Dare not disagree to be that smart chap, especially not in Chennai. Possibilities are you will be schooled in the most degrading fashion.

The people of the city had flooded the Gujarat home ground Narendra Modi Stadium with a sea of yellow on Friday. Come Monday, the sea has become an ocean with scribbled banners speaking and expressing more than what was just written on it.

'Why fear, when Dhoni is there', '7 > 1 crore' - read a few of them. Ravindra Jadeja's dismissal on the first ball of the final over was celebrated more than opposition captain KL Rahul's dismissal which broke the threatening 79-run opening stand off just 32 balls.

And why not? The very own adopted son of Chennai was finally coming out to bat for the first time after May 7, 2019. Their 'Thala' hit a six off the first ball, followed it with another and then got out on his third attempt. The frenzied crowd made sure that the celebratory noise does not drop even by a decibel. The dugout joined them this time.

The people of Chennai own Dhoni so much that people of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand will have to get over their discord over the 'ownership' of the former India captain and form a group together to face the very emotional, very sensitive 'Yellow Army'.

12-hour to grab one ticket to see King Kohli

Enough on the 'Guru' let's switch the 'Apprentice' now. Hardik Pandya needs to take a backseat here. Kohli is the original 'apprentice'. Period (third one). The Delhi boy got himself enrolled in the Dhoni school of learning as soon as he got inducted in the Indian team.

He learnt the art of leadership and channeling the energy in the right direction from MSD. The 34-year-old has gone on record to say that Dhoni will always be his captain. Barring the ICC accolades as captain, Kohli has emulated all what Dhoni achieved in his career.

One of the biggest brands in the sports world, arguably the best batter of his generation, and the only Asian with more than 200 Instagram followers - Kohli is a hit on and off the field. Bangalore knows it and Bangalore make sure to make a point to show the world that Kohli plays for RCB.

Kohli has also reciprocated that love and pledged to not turn up for any other franchise. He swears by the RCB red and gold, comes out at the M Chinnaswamy with an energy so infectious that the very loyal fans forget that they have failed to win IPL even once in these 15 years gone by.

The love between Kohli and Bangalore is not a materialistic one. It's pure and pious. Magic happens when the love is true and the same happened when King Kohli set his feet at Chinnaswamy to face five-time champions Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

Fans stood in cue for 12 hours to grab the tickets for the match - the first at the venue since 2019. Their messiah did not disappoint and put on a spectacle. Kohli played the Pied Piper and fans in the stadium danced to his tunes.

Kohli held Mumbai's 'big dog' Jofra Archer by his horns and bashed him as if he was some club cricketer. Six fours and five sixes helped the swashbuckling batter to score unbeaten 82 off 49.

'Adopted sons' Kohli and Dhoni have truly brought back the cricket fever in Chennai and Bangalore