Chennai Super Kings have formed a magical bond with MS Dhoni since the inception of the IPL. In 2008 the CSK franchise picked Dhoni as their icon player which established to be an invaluable decision. Dhoni till now has led CSK to 3 IPL titles and will once again lead them in the UAE.
However former CSK player S. Badrinath now reveals that initially, Dhoni wasn’t the first choice captain for CSK. The former batsman declared that the first option of CSK as a leader was Virender Sehwag way back in 2008. At the end, when Sehwag wanted to represent his home team Delhi in the IPL, CSK settled for Dhoni in the auction.
“IPL started in 2008, and if you see who was the first option for Chennai Super Kings, it was Virender Sehwag,” Badrinath said.
“The management had decided on picking Sehwag for sure, but Sehwag himself said that he was brought up in Delhi, so he would have a better connection”, Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Dhoni Was Not The First Choice Captain Of CSK- S Badrinath
“The management agreed for him to play in Delhi, thinking it would be better. Then came the auctions, and they saw who was the better player, and before that India won the 2007 World T20. And only then did they decide to sign Dhoni,” Badrinath added who played for CSK in the inaugural edition.
Meanwhile, Badrinath admitted that CSK made the best choice by picking Dhoni for Rs. 6 crores and announcing him as the skipper of the side. He besides lauded MS Dhoni and deemed him as one of the best captains and finishers of all time.
“In 2008, MS Dhoni was the most expensive player, they bought him for INR 6 crores. So this is a story you probably don’t know but Dhoni was picked instead of Sehwag. According to me, MS Dhoni coming to CSK was killing three birds with one stone”.
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“One, he is one of the best captains the world has ever seen. There is no trophy that he doesn’t have. “Second, the best finisher. A finisher is a very important part of all the best T20 teams around the world”, said former CSK player Badrinath.
Moreover, Dhoni will return to cricket after over one year in the upcoming IPL season. His side the Chennai Super Kings will clash with defending champs Mumbai Indians in the season opener at Abu Dhabi.
The 13th edition of IPL will be contested from September 19- November 10 in a bio-secure bubble.
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