Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star Suresh Raina recently made a surprising statement about MS Dhoni’s involvement in the franchise’s auction strategy for IPL 2025. Speaking after CSK’s seventh defeat of the season, Raina revealed that Dhoni was not heavily engaged in the team’s auction decisions.

Despite the common belief that Dhoni had a major say, Raina clarified during a Star Sports show that he was never part of any auction discussions in his 12 years with CSK. “They often say MS takes the final call, but to be honest, I never attended any auction meetings. I only spoke about player retention. Dhoni might get a call for a quick decision, but he isn’t deeply involved,” Raina explained.

Raina Praises Dhoni’s Continued Commitment at 43

While questioning Dhoni’s auction involvement, Raina was full of praise for his former captain’s commitment on the field. Despite being 43, Dhoni has taken on multiple responsibilities for CSK in IPL 2025, including wicketkeeping, finishing games with a strike rate of 142.86, and even stepping in as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury. Raina highlighted that while Dhoni continues to lead from the front, the rest of the team has failed to deliver.

“He’s still playing for the brand, for his fans, and putting in immense effort. He’s wicketkeeping, captaining, and trying to lift the whole team, but what are the other ten players doing?” Raina questioned, underlining Dhoni’s extraordinary dedication compared to his teammates’ underwhelming performances.

CSK’s Auction Missteps and Playoff Struggles

Raina further suggested that had Dhoni been more involved in the auction, CSK’s squad for IPL 2025 might have looked very different. He implied that Dhoni would not have allowed the franchise to make questionable choices. “MS will now sit and reflect. He knows CSK didn’t buy well. He wouldn’t have let this happen if he were in charge,” Raina remarked.

So far, CSK has used 20 out of their 27 players in a desperate search for a winning combination, but they have secured only two wins in nine matches. With playoffs hopes hanging by a thread, the five-time champions must win five of their remaining six games. CSK’s next crucial fixture is against the Punjab Kings at Chepauk on April 30.

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