The cricketing world will turn its attention to Ahmedabad on Sunday evening for two reasons. One, whether Gujarat Titans successfully defend their IPL title or will it be Chennai Super Kings winning a fifth trophy. And two, will it be the last time that the iconic CSK captain MS Dhoni is seen on a cricket field as a player.
To make the occasion even more grand, the world's biggest cricket ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium, is expected to have over 1,00,000 fans attending the game and possibly be part of history, in what could be Dhoni's last match.
Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will be no pushovers playing in their home stadium as they look to retain the title after a fairytale, debut-season victory a year ago.
Pandya lifted the trophy in front of a 101,566 fans at the 132,000-capacity stadium in 2022, a world record for a T20 cricket match. But organisers were confident that record would fall on Sunday evening.
A media official of the state association told AFP that "tickets are sold out for the grand finale and we are expecting a full house".
The authorities had expected a packed house for the final playoff as well, but only about 75,000 fans turned up for the Friday match when Gujarat hammered Mumbai Indians.
Scores of fans looked upbeat on Saturday as they queued to redeem their online tickets at a counter outside the stadium.
Suresh Babu, a software engineer, told AFP he had travelled from Chennai, at the other end of the country, "to see Dhoni lift the trophy one more time".
"I know it may be his last, but we pray that he comes back again next year," added the 43-year-old, who wore Dhoni's yellow Chennai jersey.
Gujarat have enjoyed huge home support in their second season in the competition, but loyalties will be divided due to Dhoni's presence.
The 41-year-old remains a huge draw in cricket-mad India and the finale is believed to be his last game as a player, despite the wicketkeeper-batsman saying he will make a call on his IPL future later this year.
The former India captain has filled venues all over the country during the current season, and the Narendra Modi Stadium will be no different in the tournament final.
Sharif, a T-shirt seller who goes by just one name, told AFP: "Last year it was just Pandya jerseys that were sold but this time Dhoni's Chennai number 7 T-shirt is equally in demand."
A young fan wearing a Pandya jersey said: "I want Hardik to win the IPL again but still want to see Dhoni hit the helicopter shot for a six."
That shot, a bottom-handed wristy flick, was Dhoni's trademark in his pomp.
In a stadium that is expected to dress in yellow despite the home team playing the final, a spectable awaits the world of cricket.
(With AFP inputs)
