Cristiano Ronaldo MS Dhoni. Image Credits: AFP
In a surprising confession, New Zealand batter Rachin Ravindra picked MS Dhoni over football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. His choice was based on popularity and fan craze which left the cricket fraternity surprised.
Ravindra has seen Dhoni’s fan craze first-hand as the duo used to play together for CSK in the IPL. Rachin entered the league as a young and promising talent who would get groomed under Dhoni.
Rachin Ravindra puts MS Dhoni above Ronaldo
While Rachin Ravindra may not be a part of CSK anymore, his admiration for MS Dhoni is still very much the same. Speaking to Wisden, the New Zealand cricketer revealed that he went to the FIFA World Cup game between Portugal and Spain.
As a self-confessed "Ronaldo guy," he expected that atmosphere to be among the loudest he would ever experience. However, Rachin noticed that he has witnessed a similar or even better fan craze before.
Rachin Ravindra went on to claim that MS Dhoni has more fan craze compared to Cristiano Ronaldo.
He shared his experience that the crowd is always on their feet when Dhoni is either playing, warming up, or even casually strolling at the airport. Such a level of support is something Rachin has never seen even for Ronaldo.
Also Read - Fact Check: Did MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli Attend Cristiano Ronaldo's Last FIFA World Cup Match?
Dhoni was recently mobbed in England
Having said that, the world saw yet another fan frenzy moment involving former Indian captain MS Dhoni. The legend arrived in Nottingham on his 45th birthday to watch the India vs England third T20I.
After the game, as he left the stadium, hundreds of fans gathered around him. People chanted his name and many tried to take selfies or record videos. Security personnel later had to escort him through the crowd to ensure his safety.
Videos of the scene quickly went viral on social media as yet another example of Dhoni’s immense popularity. Despite having retired from international cricket in 2020, MS Dhoni still enjoys the same love and admiration from cricket fans across the globe.
MS Dhoni’s IPL future remains uncertain
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni is still active in the IPL but he failed to turn up for the 2026 season. Initially, he missed the first half of the tournament due to a calf injury and later picked up a thumb injury as well.
Moreover, despite being fit towards the latter stages, he refused to make himself available for selection as he didn’t want to disrupt the team combination of CSK.
Eventually, Dhoni ended up missing the entire IPL 2026 season. Moreover, as for the upcoming 2027 season, the legend is yet to commit. His physical health is deteriorating with each passing year and while CSK have kept the door open for his return, it’s highly unlikely that MS Dhoni will be able to keep up with the fitness demands.
Also Read - List Of All Shameful Firsts That India Achieved Under Gautam Gambhir’s Coaching
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