MS Dhoni sought to strengthen his bond with CSK by acquiring a stake in the team, but talks with the management broke down, raising questions about the future of their iconic association.
MS Dhoniโs association with the Chennai Super Kings is a storied legacy; the two have been synonymous in the IPL since its inception in 2008.
Under the wicketkeeper-batter’s leadership, the franchise became a five-time IPL title winner, and fans still come in huge numbers to CSK fixtures to witness the former India captain in action.
Dhoni intended to bolster his affiliation with the IPL franchise by acquiring a stake in the team, but talks between the management and the former skipper fell through, prompting concern about their ties.
Dhoni wanted to buy CSK stake, owners refused
According to Cricblogger, Dhoni intended to acquire a stake in the Chennai Super Kings. Talks with the management broke down after they failed to reach an agreement on the terms proposed by the former Indian captain.
The report stated that Dhoni wanted to buy a 25% stake in the franchise, but the team owners were willing to offer him only 3%. He then dropped his demand to 20%, but the management counter-offered him just four per cent.
The former cricketer finally settled for an 18% stake, but the CSK management’s final offer was 5.5%, leading to a breakdown.ย ย
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More from FirstcricketโDhoni wanted to buy a stake. He wasnโt asking for it for free, but the CSK management thought otherwise,” a source was quoted, as mentioned in the report.
Stake talk fallout leads to intense rumours
Dhoni has been one of CSK’s most-capped players due to his longstanding association with the franchise. The team management had retained the veteran cricketer for INR 4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. But the latest details may indicate a breakdown between the two parties ahead of the IPL 2027 season.
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Notably, the former Indian cricketer did not compete in a single match for CSK during the IPL 2026 season due to a persistent calf injury. Whether the fallout affects Dhoni’s participation in the upcoming IPL season is yet to be seen.