MS Dhoni Has Not Asked CSK to Buy Stake, Franchise Official Clarifies
MS Dhoni denies seeking a CSK stake as the franchise confirms his existing shares and continued role in team decisions.
Chennai Super Kings have denied reports that MS Dhoni asked to buy a stake in the IPL franchise or discussed an ownership deal with the management.
A senior CSK official said Dhoni has never approached the franchise about buying a stake. The official also said there has been no discussion between Dhoni and former CSK owner N Srinivasan on the matter.
“MS has never asked us about it. We never discussed the matter,” the official said. “We also don’t have any information about him having discussed this with Mr N Srinivasan either.”
Dhoni does, however, already own shares in CSK. He holds more than 100,000 shares, which he acquired through off-market private transactions.
His holding is only a tiny fraction of the franchise’s more than 30 crore public shares. Based on current IPL valuations, Dhoni’s stake is estimated to be worth around ₹2.6 crore to ₹3 crore.
The N Srinivasan family remains the controlling shareholder in CSK, with a stake of more than 55% in the franchise. There is no indication that Dhoni is looking to challenge that control.
The ownership rumours come at a time when Dhoni’s future role with CSK is also drawing attention after he stepped away from active playing duties. Despite no reported move to increase his ownership, he remains an important figure within the franchise.
Dhoni is expected to return from the US around September 22. He could then meet the CSK management to discuss the team’s next head coach and play a role in the selection process.
His influence is also expected to remain important in other cricketing decisions, including player trades and team planning, even if he is no longer an active player.
