CSK's leadership changed as MS Dhoni's farewell begins before IPL 2026
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Former ICC Chairman N. Srinivasan, who had a heavy toll on his career as a cricket administrator after the conflict of interest allegations back in 2015, is back with the CSK owning group, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited, as its chairman.
The Chennai Super Kings are undoubtedly one of the most important sides in the history of the Indian Premier League, as they have been crowned the champions of the franchise tournament 5 times in the history of the league.
CSK management, however, has had a controversial past, being linked to alleged claims of conflict of interest as well as their links to match-fixers, that is, cricket bookies. This had led to CSK's two-year ban in the IPL from 2016 to 2017.
N Srinivasan returns to CSK with an official administrative role
Former ICC president and the brain and soul behind the Chennai Super Kings team, N Srinivasan, returns to the cricket arena as an administrator. The legendary administrator has returned as the Chairman of the Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), the company that owns the franchise.
It has been reported that Srinivasan and his daughter, Rupa Gurunath, joined the board of the CSKCL for the first time back in February 2025. In their annual report published on the 2nd of September, it was mentioned that Srinivasan has taken over the chairman post from his cousin R. Srinivasan.
Rupa, on the other hand, who was the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president, was made the full-time director of the CSKCL a week ago. Srinivasan, though never directly involved with Chennai Super Kings administration, was the owner of the team under his company, India Cements, and was the brain behind the franchise's formation.
Is MS Dhoni's stay to be questioned by the new management?
With the appointment of the new chairman of the Chennai Super Kings' owning company, a serious question has been posed over whether the new management could impose questions on the credibility and requirements of 44-year-old MS Dhoni on the Chennai Super Kings side.
MS Dhoni is probably going to play in his final IPL season with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, as they have been said to be looking for several new appointments. However, with no confirmation over Dhoni's participation yet, the change in managerial duties could end his IPL campaign drastically without a much-deserved farewell.
Srinivasan's graph as a Cricket Administrator
Srinivasan is often referred to as the greatest ever administrator of the game from India, as he started his Cricket Administration from being the President of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association back in 2002 and assumed the office after being re-elected till 2017.
He was the 30th President of the BCCI and succeeded the chair following Shashank Manohar in 2011 and continued till 2013. During his time, India gained immense power over international cricket administration.
He soon left the BCCI to be appointed the ICC Chairman in 2014 and assumed the office till 2015; before this, he had already remained the BCCI secretary from 2008 to 2011, much like the current ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
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