In the very first season of the Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings bought MS Dhoni in the first-ever auction in 2008. Unlike the remaining seven franchises, CSK did not name a marquee player and instead went ahead and broke the bank to rope in the wicketkeeper batter.
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Since 2008, Dhoni has been an integral part of the franchise and have never moved out of the team except for the IPL 2016 and 2017 seasons when CSK were banned from competing and the former Indian captain moved to now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants.
Dhoni has been the most decorated player in the history of the franchise and has helped them win a record five IPL titles in 16 years.
Unfortunately, he could not lead the team to the playoffs in the current season after they went down against RCB in their final league game of the campaign last week.
'It's an emotional connect' - MS Dhoni
Now the legendary cricketer has opened up on the bond he shares with the franchise and why he has never left the team in so many years.
MORE: 'One more season' - Ambati Rayudu urges MS Dhoni to play in IPL 2025
Speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8, Dhoni said,
My connection with CSK, it's an emotional connect. It's not like a player who comes, plays a couple of months & goes back home, my strength is the emotional connection.
There have been speculations about the 41-year-old calling it quits after the current season and may not make him available for IPL 2025 mega-auction, however, the player is yet to make an official statement on his future.
MORE: Did MS Dhoni play his last IPL match?
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