How CSK Bought MS Dhoni For Rs. 11.33 Crore In IPL 2008 Auction

MS Dhoni is an asset to have for any team. His mind with calm and composed thinking has done wonders for Indian cricket team and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, ahead of the IPL 2008, iconic MS Dhoni was without a home, unlike his counterparts. It is exactly the moment when CSK decided to empty their banks to buy one of the greatest captains of all-time.

MS Dhoni was at the peak of his career at 2008. He was a rising star for the Indian cricket team and IPL franchises were after him. However, former IPL COO Sundar Raman in a conversation to Gaurav Kapur on 22 Yarns podcast, revealed in depth how CSK was able to spent the large amount behind the iconic player.

At that time in IPL, an icon player did not have a fixed salary: Sundar Raman

Kolkata Knight Riders had Sourav Ganguly as their icon player like Sachin Tendulkar was for Mumbai Indians in the inaugural edition of IPL. But CSK did not have an icon player like MS Dhoni did not have a home. At the IPL 2008 auction, what turned out to CSK’s advantage was they did not have an icon player, and thus they could go for a free bid.

“The only thing sure about the 2008 IPL was that the marquee players had to be assigned to their respective franchises. Sachin Tendulkar for Mumbai, Virender Sehwag for Delhi, Yuvraj Singh for Punjab, Sourav Ganguly for Kolkata. But MS Dhoni, who was at the peak of his stardom, was without a home,” former IPL COO Sundar Raman told Gaurav Kapur on 22 Yarns podcast.

“So what did he do? He made Chennai his home. At the time, the icon player was not fixed a salary, and would be paid 15% more than the highest paid player on the team. Since CSK didn’t have an icon player, they were a bit more free to bid for the player of their choice. So the Indian T20 captain went to Chennai because there was no surcharge or GST, so to speak,” he added.

It was a choice CSK will be proud of as Dhoni helped the franchise clinch the IPL title thrice — 2010, 2011 and 2018.