5 reasons why CSK has such a mass following

#5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Thala

MS Dhoni was the costliest player bought at the inaugural IPL auction in 2008 for a whopping sum (then) of $1.5 million. He was instantly named the captain of the side. From then on Dhoni has been the adopted son of Chennai.The rise of Dhoni and CSK has always been a parallel story. The city goes head over heels for his hairstyles, cricketing strokes, and his on-field demeanor. He has led them fair and with flair.

Dhoni's skill sets: Dhoni has gifted them with some wonderful memories all through his career in the form of blistering cameos, insanely quick stumpings, unorthodox field placings, unique bowling combinations and what not. Chennai Super Kings team-sheet cannot be imagined without his name on the starting XI. The desperation for his presence was witnessed when the team owner struck his neck out and announced in 2009 that they would be willing to bid any amount for Dhoni if he had to go into the auction. The value he adds to the team is intangible.

Pan-India fan base: Dhoni's charismatic leadership attracts fans from across the nation. His fan base has only added more to the kitty of Chennai Super Kings. It would not be surprising if you find MS Dhoni's statue installed on the shores of Marina beach along with the other stalwarts some day in near future. His legacy and that of CSK is still a story in the making.

The essence of any sport lies in the emotions it kindles in the hearts of its fans and we should be happy about Cricket, Indian Premier League and Chennai Super Kings for doing exactly that.