Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been the “Don” or “Thala’ , a moniker bestowed upon him by the fans of the most Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise team Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
He has always made the big splash for the team with a yellow signature colour. Right from the time the then India Cements-owned franchise made a successful bid for him at the first season (2008) auction with a high price of $ 1.5 million (around Rs.6 crore), attention has rivetted on him, even when the team was suspended in 2016 and 2017.
The franchise that paid a little over $ 91 million to the BCCI to own the Chennai team took a strategic call to win him at all cost at the player auction because he was already the rising star of Indian cricket within four years of international debut.
His swashbuckling 148 against Pakistan in Visakhapatnam in April 2005 and his physical appearance with a distinctive mane all went well with the cricket fans. Winning the inaugural 2007 World Twenty20 in South Africa made him the most popular cricketer, rising from being a humble ticket collector with the Indian Railways. Soon he developed the ‘helicopter shot’ and became a hit with the CSK and men in blue team fans. Playing a magnificent role with the bat in the 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium made him a super star.
Dhoni has been the face of CSK – as captain in 212 matches from 2008 to 2023 – and as a man appearing like an orchestra conductor with the big gloves. On occasions (in five matches) Suresh Raina led CSK between 2010 and 2019, and Ravindra Jadeja (in 8 matches of the 2022 season). CSK made full-time change of captaincy going in for Ruturaj Gaikwad last season, but Dhoni has remained the ubiquitous “Thala” of the team.
There has been speculations about him hanging his boots from the IPL, but he has remained loyal to the team and the franchise would not let him go! He has been retained as an uncapped player for season 2025 at the age of 43.
Dhoni has rarely been out of action as a keeper. Over a period of seventeen years he has kept wicket in 226 matches,allowing Parthiv Patel to keep wicket on ten occasions from 2008 to 2010 and once each to Sam Billings, Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali. CSK has an option to use Vansh Bedi as a keeper this season.
CSK has been a five-time winner of the IPL and ten time finalist, all under Dhoni. He will always be central to CSK’s plans and Gaikwad will look upon him to show the way.
As a team CSK will remain a contender for the title – for the sixth time. With its long-time coach Stephen Fleming, CSK has a good batting line up in Gaikwad and Devon Conway at the top order and an array of batter allrounders in Rachin Ravindra, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and Deepak Hooda and a specialist in Rahul Tripathi – all capable of exploding into action at any time.
CSK’s bowling department has been strengthened by the inclusion of off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who returns to the Chennai team after ten seasons. He played for CSK in 97 matches from 2009 to 2015.
Ashwin, Jadeja and Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad will play a key role across all venues. CSK’s new ball attack – in the powerplay and the death overs- will be in the hands of Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis and Sam Curran. The team also has promising bowlers in Anshul Kamboj,and Gurjapneet Singh.
A champion side, CSK has personnel within the team and support staff to sustain a good show and keep its legion of fans happy. It has the wherewithal to win the title and should that happen, it will surprise none.
Just to sum up finisher Dhoni’s feats in numbers : 264 matches, 229 innings, 5242 runs, 84* highest, 24 x 50s, 152 catches, 42 stumpings, 330 x4s and 222 x6s.