Jos Buttler, England’s white-ball skipper, has hailed MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s large fan following, comparing the atmosphere around them to a Taylor Swift concert.
While Dhoni resigned from international cricket as India’s most successful captain, Kohli continues to break records, becoming the first player to achieve 50 ODI hundreds last year.
The two will appear in the 2024 IPL season opening, when CSK faces RCB in Chennai on March 22.
When asked about the popularity of the two Indian legends, Buttler told Fancode:
“(There’s) that sort of fantasy around the IPL and the way the fans are is, like I say, unmatched. There’s guys like Dhoni and Kohli, when these guys walk on the field, it is probably like 10-year-olds at a Taylor Swift concert. It’s unbelievable, the noise that people create just to see them, you know? They are not even playing, they’re just walking out onto the field.”
Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler added:
“Travelling through the airports there’s security all around them, guys trying to just take a selfie or get close to them. They are A-list celebs out there and the following they have. Obviously, now with social media and the influence they have is incredible. So, it’s cool to see a bit of that.”
Jos Buttler
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni is the most successful IPL skipper, having led CSK to five victories.
Kohli supported Dhoni during India’s victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup before taking over as captain in all forms in 2017.
“At times you want to shut yourself away in your room and just hide away” – Jos Buttler
Jos Buttler liked the attention that cricketers receive, but admits to wanting to avoid the spotlight at times throughout his career.
As one of cricket’s most admired players globally, this 33-year-old notable athlete seized the Orange Cap in IPL 2022. Demonstrating remarkable leadership prowess, he guided England’s national squad to triumph at the T20 World Cup later that year.
“At times you want to shut yourself away in your room and just hide away. Obviously, we don’t have it to the level those guys I mentioned do. But it’s also cool to get that sort of recognition and feel like a bit of a rockstar. So, yeah, the fans are next level for cricketers and especially the big Indian stars, they really do idolise them.”
Jos Buttler
Despite his efforts, Buttler’s England team underperformed tremendously in the ODI World Cup the previous year. Disappointingly, they failed to secure a spot in the semifinal stage.
The great wicketkeeper-batsman will return to play on March 24, when the Rajasthan Royals (RR) face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2024 IPL season.