MS Dhoni has won the IPL five times for CSK franchise.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has shared his views on recent reports that MS Dhoni had offered to buy a 25% stake in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and the franchise’s decision to offer only a 5.5% stake has soured the relationship between the two parties.
MS Dhoni has been with the CSK franchise since its inception. Except for the two years CSK was banned, MS Dhoni has been associated with the yellow franchise since 2008 and led them to five IPL wins as well.
Dhoni is 45, and while his playing role has diminished in recent years, he remains an inspirational figure within the CSK ranks.
According to a Cricblogger article, Dhoni requested a 25% share in CSK before lowering it to 20%. The franchise then reportedly offered him a 5.5% share.
Former India player Aakash Chopra said the claim was unrealistic and even called it a planted story.
"There was talk of 1.7 to 1.8 billion when RCB was bought just now. Chennai Super Kings is the same kind of franchise. You can do the valuation however you want, but this is the franchise that has five trophies and has multiple franchises outside India as well," Chopra said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
"They have got a legacy and a lot going for them. Chennai Super Kings is a serious, serious brand. If it's worth 1.8 billion and Dhoni has asked for a 25 percent stake in that, it is unrealistic. This isn't possible. No one gives 400 million to anyone. In fact, you have to invest 400 million to get a 25 percent stake. It is a bizarre number. Nobody is going to give anyone 25 per cent in an IPL team,” he added.
Chopra went on to say that even a 5.5 percent stake is a tall ask.
"Then there was talk of 3.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent. I am saying that even if it's 5.5 percent, just think about how much money it is. Two percent, three percent, or five percent—that is an incredible amount of money.
I feel it is a planted story. I don't know who has planted it. Asking for 25 percent, then refusing 25 percent, then giving 3.5 percent, and then settling for 5.5 percent after an estrangement, I do feel that it isn't true. Because I don't have verified information, I can't call it fake news. But I have a feeling that it's not a true story,” Chopra stated.
MS Dhoni captained CSK from 2008 to 2015 and then from 2018 to 2023, winning the IPL in the 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 editions.