Now Reading: Ex-KKR star calls report on Dhoni seeking 25% CSK stake ‘blunt verdict’
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Ex-KKR star calls report on Dhoni seeking 25% CSK stake ‘blunt verdict’
Former Kolkata Knight Riders player Akash Chopra has dismissed a report that MS Dhoni demanded a 25 per cent stake in Chennai Super Kings, calling it improbable. The report, citing unnamed sources,…
Former Kolkata Knight Riders player Akash Chopra has dismissed a report that MS Dhoni demanded a 25 per cent stake in Chennai Super Kings, calling it improbable. The report, citing unnamed sources, claimed Dhoni wanted the stake after stepping down as captain.
Chopra, now a commentator, said on his YouTube show that such a demand would violate IPL rules restricting player ownership and be impractical for a franchise valued at over Rs 2000 crore. He argued Dhoni already earns crores through his role and image rights.
Dhoni, 45, is in his final seasons as a CSK player but remains a mentor figure. Neither CSK, the BCCI nor Dhoni's camp has commented. The franchise is preparing for the next IPL season.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The IPL's ownership rules prevent active players from holding stakes in franchises, a norm that also applied to teammates who were part-owners, Sachin Tendulkar held a minority stake in MI via a 2013 deal but exited it before the 2014 season when the league tightened conflict-of-interest rules. Currently, the BCCI's IPL Governing Council reviews all franchise ownership changes. The 2023 player regulations explicitly bar any player from having a commercial interest in another team. If Dhoni were to seek a stake, CSK would need BCCI approval, and any such move would likely force his retirement as an active player, given the rule. That makes the report practically unviable unless Dhoni retires fully, which he has not indicated. The next annual player retention deadline in November will clarify CSK's squad plans.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
