Table of Contents
The relationship between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) management and MS Dhoni is reportedly not on the same page as it used to be a few years back. The strain between the management and their former captain resulted from a few decisions taken by the franchise officials without consulting MS Dhoni.
The first crack in their relationship is believed to have appeared four seasons back, when CSK officials asked Ravindra Jadeja to step down from the captaincy role. The decision to remove Jadeja eventually from the captaincy role, and later entirely from the team, was believed to be taken without Dhoni’s nod.
Why are there doubts over the relationship between MS Dhoni and CSK?
Jadeja was appointed as the captain of the team during the 2022 IPL season for a brief spell. He was the captain of the IPL team from March 24, 2022, to April 30, 2022, before being snubbed from the role.
Because of the team’s poor form, the management removed Ravindra Jadeja from the captaincy in the middle of the season and reappointed MS Dhoni as the captain. Later, Jadeja was traded out of the Chennai Super Kings, ahead of the IPL 2026 season, to bring in Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals.
According to a CricBlogger report, both of the major decisions about Jadeja were not approved by Dhoni. Dhoni was in support of the experienced spin-bowling all-rounder. According to the media report, the legendary keeper-batter asked the management to keep Jadeja as the captain, and he would be there on the ground to help him in taking decisions during matches.
Trading out Ravindra Jadeja is also believed to be a major point that affected MS Dhoni and CSK's bond
If the claims made in the report are to be believed, the Chennai Super Kings officials, instead of taking Dhoni’s advice seriously, snubbed Ravindra Jadeja from the captaincy unceremoniously.
The way Jadeja was removed from the role caused major damage to the CSK-Dhoni relationship. Later, the player transfer deal between the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson, too, was made without Dhoni’s consideration.
“Once Dhoni backed, he didn’t have multiple versions. He would stick to his players forever,” a source told CricBlogger.
Contrasting reports on MS Dhoni's future with the Chennai Super Kings
Ahead of the IPL 2027 season, there are multiple claims and reports surrounding Mahendra Singh Dhoni. While the CricBlogger report indicates a strain between the franchise and its former captain, a few other media reports have previously claimed that the former Indian cricketer could be appointed for a bigger role in the upcoming Indian Premier League season.
Dhoni is now 45, well over his prime, did not feature in a single match in the previous season, and is nearing his IPL retirement. At this point, like many other cricketers in the league, he could also choose to join the coaching staff of the franchise. In a different report, it was claimed that Super Kings could appoint MS Dhoni as their mentor.
What's really going on behind the curtain will be clear if either the franchise or Dhoni himself opens their mouths to clear all the doubts.
