RCB vs CSK: Not MS Dhoni! Virender Sehwag sensationally claims he was CSK's first-choice captain
Published - 17 May 2024, 08:41 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
MS Dhoni's journey in the Indian Premier League is nothing less than a fairytale. Barring 2016 and 2017 when Chennai Super Kings were suspended, the former India skipper has been plying his trade for the same team and the journey so far has been absolutely brilliant.
Under his captaincy, CSK have won the IPL title five times in addition to finishing runners-up a record five times as well. There is absolutely no denying that MS Dhoni is one of the most if not the most popular cricketer in Chennai. The craze for him among the Chennai fans is unparalleled.
However, things could have been very different for both CSK as well as MS Dhoni if Virender Sehwag had accepted an offer from the franchise before the inaugural season in 2008. In a recent interview, the former India opener revealed that MS Dhoni was not CSK's first choice and they wanted him instead. However, Sehwag decided against playing for them and went on to sign for his hometown-based franchise Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils).
"VB Chandrashekhar was selecting the players for CSK. He phone-called me and said, 'we want you to play for CSK. Delhi Daredevils want you to be their icon. Don't accept the offer'. I was like, fine, we will see," Sehwag revealed in a chat with Fever FM.
"Finally, I received the offer from Delhi Daredevils to be their icon player and I accepted it. I didn't go into the auction. If I were a part of the auction, CSK would've bought me and made me the captain of the side. But then, they bought MS Dhoni and made him the captain," he added.
While MS Dhoni went on to join and lead CSK, Sehwag led the Delhi-based franchise in the first season. He stayed with DC for six seasons before parting ways to join Punjab Kings in 2014. He played two seasons for Punjab before retiring from all forms of cricket.
MS Dhoni in IPL 2024:
Unlike Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni has continued to play in the IPL. At the start of the ongoing season, he stepped down as the captain of CSK and was replaced by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni has faced 60 balls in IPL 2024 so far, scoring 136 runs with the help of 11 fours and 12 sixes.
