Chennai Super Kings' unlisted stock and valuations continue to climb, with a unicorn status not too far away. The expansion of the IPL—with two new teams in 2022—and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni building CSK's core for upcoming seasons, point towards a stronger franchise, with or without the cricketing icon
For millions of CSK, and Indian cricket, fans, Dhoni and CSK are symbiotic and almost synonymous brands
Image: Michael Steele-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
On the night of October 16, when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to lift the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy for the fourth time, the attention on the field quickly shifted from the match-winning exploits of CSK opener and former South African captain Faf du Plessis and West Indian white-ball veteran Dwayne Bravo to that of ‘Thala’—the franchise’s record-breaking captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Was the iconic player going to announce his retirement from the IPL, a year after he had quit international cricket?
A month after that win, Dhoni has broken his silence, saying his “last T20” will be in Chennai, CSK’s headquarters. “Whether it’s next year or in five years’ time, I don’t know,” he said at a felicitation ceremony in the Southern city, which was attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.