The entire city of Chennai was abuzz with expectation ahead of the season opener between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and the newly rebranded Royal Challengers Bengaluru from the neighbouring state.
With deep running emotions and significance of mammoth proportions that accompany the encounter due to the long and rather testy relationship the sides share, the sides set out to train at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, the venue for the opener.
With the crowd heavier than usual on matchday eve due to the number of heads that have descended to the Tamil Nadu capital ahead of the curtain-raiser.
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The training party was split in two as the players got their final touches of practice in the nets in with a cohort from both teams honing their touch in the space outside the fabled ground. Chennai coach Stephen Fleming, who had opened up about the change in captaincy the team is set to undergo at the behest of former skipper MS Dhoni, was spotted exchanging ideas with Chennai new boy Rachin Ravindra, who was brought in on an absolute bargain, as the southpaw faced the CSK net bowling unit.
RCB new recruit Alzarri Joseph was seen delivering ripper after ripper in the adjacent net, with left-arm seamer Reece Topley offering variation in the form of his lanky left-arm seam.
While fans greeted the players practicing outside with warmth and excitement, the biggest hurray was reserved for the two men batting inside the ground- MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.
Dhoni, returning from a knee injury that he endured during the previous season, seems to have recovered better than even the most optimistic of fans expected and was seen dominating the incoming deliveries.
The long hair flowing out of the confines of the headgear worn to protect his wise head moving with the wind as he smashed delivery after delivery to the stands which greeted with cheers that echoed through the ground gearing up for a one-of -a kind celebration complete with laser light delight.
Kohli, one of the most flawless batters in modern-day cricket and a superstar in himself, was upto his usual antics in the neighbouring net as he smoked one drive after another in preparation for what RCB hope to be a maiden crowing season. But, all eyes were on one man- Dhoni.
The left-handed pair of Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were seen trading places with the World Cup Winner as the trio faced incoming deliveries in alternation as newly-appointed captain Ruturaj Gaikwad observed the idol plying his trade from behind the nets alongside the veteran Ajinkya Rahane.
Dhoni looked like a man possessed smashing multiple deliveries beyond the ropes sending the onlookers into a tipsy in anticipation of the big man’s performance on game day.
The trademark stance, the bespoke mannerism, the incredible high backlift and the mighty swing that sends whiplash across the 22 yards were all on display at nets as the prodigal son sets out to gift the Dhoni-mad city with yet another season of cricketing brilliance.
The hustle continued in the outfield as contractors and organisers worked up a sweat to get hoardings, artefacts and props aligned for the opening ceremony that promises to be a spectacle featuring the Mozart of Madras and Oscar winner AR Rahman himself.
Decorative masks of gigantic sizes glued up and materialized for the celebrations were brought out as anchors from various news outlets attempted to preface the showpiece that could be a watershed season in the annals of the tournament for more reasons than one.
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