Speaking of water, a lot of it has flown under the bridge on which MS Dhoni stood last May. Back then, he was being hailed for seemingly distinctive decisions, like getting Ashwin to take on Chris Gayle in the final, that helped the CSK cement their IPL reputation just two months after the country rode his chopper to the top. Over the past couple of months, though, he has been subjected to scorn.

Worse, Chennai's start this season hasn't done much to restore his reputation. Their Fort Knox, Chepauk, had only been captured once in the past one-and-a-half seasons; the perimeter was breached by MI on the first day.

Barring the opening season, the yellows haven't ever been the quickest off the blocks. It's time for Dhoni to retake the lead, and fortify his team and their bastion, especially in the eye of an impending Gayle storm.