MS Dhoni’s journey in the Indian Premier League is nothing less than a fairy tale. Barring 2016 and 2017 when the Chennai Super Kings were suspended, the former India captain has been plying his trade for the same team and the journey so far has been absolutely brilliant.
Under his captaincy, CSK won the IPL title five times, besides finishing runners-up a record five times. There is no denying at all that MS Dhoni is one of the most popular, if not the most popular cricketer in Chennai. The craze for him among Chennai fans is unparalleled.
However, things could have been very different for both CSK and MS Dhoni had Virender Sehwag accepted an offer from the franchise before the inaugural season in 2008. In a recent interview, the former India opener revealed that MS Dhoni was not the first CSK player. choice and they wanted him instead. However, Sehwag decided not to play for them and signed for the Delhi Capitals franchise (then Delhi Daredevils), based in his hometown.
“VB Chandrashekhar was selecting players for CSK. He called me on the phone and said, ‘We want you to play for CSK. The Delhi Daredevils want you to be their icon. Don’t accept the offer’. I was like, okay, We’ll see,” Sehwag revealed in a chat with Fever FM.
“Finally I got the offer from Delhi Daredevils to be their icon player and I accepted it. I didn’t enter the auction. If I had been a part of the auction, CSK would have bought me and I would have become the captain of the team.” But then they bought MS Dhoni and made him captain,” he added.
While MS Dhoni joined and led CSK, Sehwag led the Delhi-based franchise in the first season. He stayed at DC for six seasons before breaking away to join Punjab Kings in 2014. He played two seasons for Punjab before retiring from all forms of cricket.
MS Dhoni in IPL 2024:
Unlike Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni has continued to play in the IPL. At the start of the current season, he stepped down as CSK captain and was replaced by Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni has faced 60 balls in IPL 2024 so far, scoring 136 runs with the help of 11 fours and 12 sixes.
