Dhoni and Chennai — an unadulterated love story
Speaking at Sportstar’s South Sports Conclave, Chennai Super Kings franchise owner N. Srinivasan revealed how CSK signed Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Chennai Super Kings, a franchise owned by N. Srinivasan’s India Cements, set the ball rolling by giving a $1.5 million start to the inaugural IPL auction in Bengaluru in 2008. Speaking at Sportstar’s South Sports Conclave, Srinivasan revealed how CSK signed Dhoni. “At the IPL auction, I missed the first two picks. I had asked V. B. Chandrasekhar — former Test cricketer from Tamil Nadu — to hold the baton. At any price, I wanted M. S. Dhoni. The reason I felt very confident was because I felt the others did not know arithmetic.
“They had said that they will give 10% [15%] more to the icon player, because they all wanted an icon. Punjab wanted Yuvraj Singh, Delhi wanted Virender Sehwag, Bangalore Rahul Dravid and Mumbai Sachin Tendulkar. They asked me, I said ‘no’. My father taught me some arithmetic. I figured out if 1.5 million out of five went to the icon players — then what are you left with to get the rest of the 22.”
Dhoni’s bidding started from the base price of $400,000 and by the time the bids crossed the $900,000 mark, only Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings were in the fray. “Suddenly, Mumbai was bidding up to 1.5 million for Dhoni. Then they realised that they have to give the icon player 10% [15%] more than what they give the most expensive player.
“They said 3.5 million, everything gone, and they collapsed. And that is how Dhoni came to Chennai. It was 100% arithmetic. No other reason why we got him [Dhoni],” he said.
Srinivasan also explained why Chennai and Dhoni continue to be an unadulterated love story. “We gave him [Dhoni] a motorbike because he likes motorbikes. He took it and disappeared.
“He rode all around the town. One of the reasons that he grew on Chennai and Chennai grew on him is the fact that whenever there was a match, you would suddenly turn around and see Dhoni on a bike next to you. He has travelled the length and breadth of this city on his motorbike, which in its own way, endeared him to the people of this city.”