Eden Gardens gives a rousing ‘farewell’ to the cricketing legend

So was it Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s last match at the Eden Gardens on Sunday? Well, Kolkata’s favourite jamai seemed to hint at that, and maybe retirement, when he told media persons, “They (the fans) are trying to give me a farewell, so thanks a lot to the crowd,” after the match. Earlier, during the match, fans bathed the iconic stadium in a sea of yellow and every chant was about Dhoni.
Such was the mood on the ground that even Ravi Shastri commented: “It’s the sea of yellow in Eden, tribute to one man. He’s the King of East, it’s MS Dhoni.” Loud chants of ‘We want Dhoni’ echoed through the stands, and when the man walked in to bat, thousands of mobile torches greeted him. A few celebs were in the stands witness history unfolding. Here’s what they told us about the experience:

‘I’M NOT A SUPPORTER OF HIS TEAM, BUT I CAN’T DENY THE LEGEND MS DHONI IS’
It was such a great pleasure to see Kolkata come alive at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Though I’m not a supporter of the team that Dhoni captains, I can’t deny the legend the man is! His fans were ready to see other players get bowled out just to see him bat! They kept screaming his name, even when other players were batting. It was an amazing experience!
— Ritabhari Chakraborty, actress

‘It seemed only one team was playing at Eden on Sunday — Team Dhoni’
It was a mind-blowing night to see MS Dhoni playing for the last time in front of 60,000 and more spectators at Eden Gardens. A sea of yellow flags and T-shirts in the stands showed respect and love to one of the finest batsmen of our era. Torches were on when he stepped on the ground to play and what a sight it was! It seemed only one team was playing at Edens on Sunday — Team Dhoni
— Romiit Raaj, actor

‘I got goosebumps when Dhoni walked onto the ground’
Last evening was magical and historic. Everyone was supporting Mahendra Singh Dhoni! When I heard fans chanting his name, I was recalling his inspiring journey — how a man, who once couldn’t afford a cricket kit, had reached a point in life where an entire stadium was chanting his name. I too got goosebumps when he walked onto the ground. It was heartwarming to see the whole stadium cheering for him
— Darshana Banik, actress-model

‘The time Dhoni was on the ground was epic!’
It was all about Dhoni on Sunday; the whole stadium turned yellow! The moment he stepped onto the ground, everyone started chanting his name. Mobile lights flashed, with many recording the man’s last match on our home ground. The whole stadium was lit up! He played just two balls, but the time he was there was epic. I am a die-hard Dhoni fan and I try to follow his mantra — to stay calm during the toughest of situations
— John Batyacharyya, actor