Dhoni’s Final Showdown: Enthusiasm Soars as 100,000+ Fans Await IPL Championship. Anticipation is mounting as a colossal crowd of over 100,000 is projected to fill the world’s largest cricket stadium on Sunday for the grand finale of the Indian Premier League, potentially marking the farewell of the cricket superstar M.S. Dhoni.

The match will see Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings pitted against reigning champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, with Chennai aiming to secure their fifth title, thus matching a record in the high-stakes T20 tournament.

However, Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will pose a formidable challenge in their home stadium as they strive to retain the title following their remarkable debut-season triumph a year ago.

In 2022, Pandya hoisted the trophy in front of a staggering 101,566 fans at the 132,000-capacity stadium, setting a new world record for a T20 cricket match. Organizers are confident that this record will be shattered on Sunday evening.

An official from the state association informed AFP that “tickets for the grand finale have been completely sold out, and we expect a packed stadium.”

While the playoff final was also expected to draw a capacity crowd, only around 75,000 fans attended the Friday match when Gujarat dominated the Mumbai Indians.

Eager supporters were seen in high spirits on Saturday as they lined up to collect their online tickets from a counter outside the stadium.

Suresh Babu, a software engineer who traveled all the way from Chennai, expressed his excitement, stating, “I have come here to witness Dhoni lift the trophy once more. It might be his last appearance, but we hope he returns next year.” The 43-year-old proudly sported Dhoni’s iconic yellow Chennai jersey.

In their second season in the tournament, Gujarat has enjoyed tremendous home support. However, allegiances will be divided due to Dhoni’s presence.

The 41-year-old continues to captivate cricket-crazy India, and it is widely believed that the final will be his swansong, despite the wicketkeeper-batsman stating that he will make a decision regarding his IPL future later this year.

Throughout the current season, the former Indian captain has drawn massive crowds in stadiums across the country, and the Narendra Modi Stadium will be no exception in the tournament’s climax.

Sharif, a T-shirt vendor who goes by a single name, remarked to AFP, “Last year, it was only Pandya jerseys that sold like hotcakes, but this time, Dhoni’s Chennai number 7 T-shirt is equally in demand.”

A young fan sporting a Pandya jersey expressed his wishes, saying, “I want Hardik to win the IPL again, but I also want to see Dhoni smash a six with his signature helicopter shot.”

That helicopter shot, a unique bottom-handed wrist flick, became Dhoni’s trademark during his heyday.