Why MS Dhoni and CSK’s Never-Ending Bond Has Little to Do With Cricketing Logic

It has been six long years since MS Dhoni last scored a substantial fifty in the IPL. Under his captaincy, Chennai Super Kings finished tenth last season. At 44, he is no longer the lethal finisher he once was. By conventional cricketing standards, the checklist for dropping a player seems complete. Yet, CSK is more likely than ever to hold on to him.

This seemingly illogical choice highlights the IPL’s unique ecosystem – a tournament built on the idea that Cricket could be seamlessly fused with entertainment, a vision the BCCI embraced during the league’s inception.

CSK recently released a cleverly crafted social media teaser just before the league’s retention deadline. The video featured their mascot, Leo the Lion, who silently responded to incessant phone calls from fans nationwide asking the same question: “Will Dhoni play next season?” Leo replied through Morse code, scribbling one message – “One last time?”

The message was subtle yet unmistakable: Dhoni has agreed to play another season, succumbing to the overwhelming national sentiment. CSK’s tone was clear – if the fans want him, the Thala stays.

The question mark in the message was intentional, keeping suspense alive until the broadcaster’s big reveal of the “player retention list” on Saturday. Drama is indispensable to IPL storytelling, and franchises – after investing hundreds of crores – rely on such moments for returns. In this world, commercial stakes often rival the ones on the field.

Does this mean winning does not matter to IPL teams? Not quite. But unlike major sporting leagues across the world, defeat in the IPL lacks true consequence. With no relegation or promotion system, finishing last does not bring the fear of dropping into obscurity.

Even if CSK hit rock bottom, the next season begins with the same packed Chepauk stands, the same roaring crowds, and the same chants of “Dhoni! Dhoni!” Fans still leap through barricades and risk bruises for a glimpse of their Thala. Their expectations are minimal – they live off nostalgia. A trademark helicopter shot or a lightning stumping is enough.

For CSK fans, the IPL is not just cricket; it is an exhibition, and Dhoni is the museum’s star attraction. One doesn’t visit the Louvre expecting the Mona Lisa to wave; her presence is enough. Dhoni may have aged, but his brand remains timeless – untouched by match results.

“All of you inquired in every known language,” CSK wrote on X, as Leo responded once again in Morse code.

You all asked in every language known.

Leo still chose — — ·-· ··· · 😉✨#LeoHotline #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/TSylWZZdZC

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 13, 2025

But beyond emotions, CSK’s decision is firmly rooted in IPL economics. Winning the title brings surprisingly modest financial reward. The IPL 2025 champions, Royal Challengers Bangalore, received Rs 20 crore – which is Rs 7 crore less than what Rishabh Pant earned for playing for seventh-placed Lucknow SuperGiants. In the world’s biggest T20 league, winners do not take all.

Another eyebrow-raising CSK move is the likely non-retention of Ravindra Jadeja, expected to join Rajasthan Royals. This isn’t emotional or cricketing either. Jadeja may be out of India’s white-ball plans, but he remains a top-tier IPL performer. By logic, a franchise retaining Dhoni should have extended the same generosity to Jadeja – a proven match-winner who smashed a six and four in the final two balls to win CSK the 2023 title.

Ideally, Jadeja could have been groomed as Dhoni’s successor. He was even appointed captain once, but the experiment collapsed quickly. Dhoni’s towering presence overshadowed him from behind the stumps. Nothing grows under CSK’s banyan tree.

Suresh Raina, too, once had the makings of a successor. Like Jadeja, he was a superb fielder, a reliable batter, an occasional bowler, and a popular face. But he remained Chinna Thala – never quite the heir.

Chennai’s loyalty to its icons extends beyond cricket – from film stars to sports heroes, once embraced, they remain cherished forever. CSK operates with the same cultural sentiment. The dugout becomes a Sanctuary where legends are allowed to rest on their laurels without judgment.

Dhoni may not be the player he once was – but he is still the phenomenon he has always been. And in the IPL’s unique world, that is more valuable than any fifty or finisher’s cameo.