During Chennai Super Kings' IPL victory celebration held at the Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai in the presence of captain MS Dhoni himself, chief guest CM MK Stalin claimed that he did not attend the event as a Chief Minister but rather as a fan of Dhoni.

The CM also revealed that his father and former TN Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi was also a fan of MS Dhoni and explained how the two of them were similar in nature. After greeting India Cements’ N Srinivasan, MS Dhoni, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, IPL Chairman Brijesh Patel, and legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, CM Stalin said, “After Kapil Dev, it was Dhoni who brought the country glory at the World Cup in 2011 and I am here to cherish him and his career. Even though Dhoni is from Jharkhand, to us he is a ‘Chennaikaaran.’”

Comparing the legacy left behind by his father Kalaignar with MS Dhoni’s life, the CM further explained, “The two of them are similar. No matter the stress or situation, they both remain cool. Getting over obstacles and succeeding is something that both have done. The fact that he has come from a small town and took his country to such great heights has made people of Tamil Nadu admire him as one of their own. Dhoni is a man from ordinary beginnings who achieved extraordinary things, which made Kalaignar adore him as well.”