MS Dhoni’s Reported CSK Stake Deal Falls Through Over Ownership Terms

Former India captain and Chennai Super Kings legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reportedly explored the possibility of becoming a stakeholder in the IPL franchise, but negotiations are said to have broken down over the terms of the proposed deal.

According to a report by CricBlogger, Dhoni expressed interest in acquiring a stake in CSK as he looked to strengthen his long-standing association with the Chennai-based franchise. However, the two sides reportedly failed to reach an agreement on the percentage of ownership.

The report claims Dhoni initially sought a 25% stake in CSK, while the franchise management was willing to offer around 3%. Dhoni subsequently reduced his demand to 20%, but the reported offer increased only to 4%.

After further discussions, Dhoni is said to have proposed an 18% stake, while CSK management reportedly made a final offer of 5.5%.

“Dhoni wanted to buy a stake. He wasn’t asking for it for free, but the CSK management thought otherwise,” a source was quoted as saying by CricBlogger.

The report further states that much of the discussion between Dhoni and the CSK management took place verbally, with no formal written proposal or agreement being exchanged.

The reported disagreement has also raised questions about Dhoni's future relationship with CSK. There is currently uncertainty over whether the former captain will return to the franchise as a player.

Dhoni has been associated with CSK since the inaugural IPL season in 2008 and remains one of the franchise's most prominent figures. He was retained by CSK for ₹4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, an injury prevented him from featuring in the 2026 IPL season.

With Dhoni's playing career approaching its final phase, his long-term association with CSK remains a major talking point among IPL fans.