'I decided to take a risk' - CSK captain MS Dhoni reveals 2008 auction strategy of emerging as highest-paid player

MS Dhoni is widely regarded as one of the greatest captains in the history of cricket, thanks to his stellar records in both international tournaments and franchise leagues. To highlight his captaincy prowess, under his leadership, India won three major multi-national trophies and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) achieved glory in the Indian Premier League (IPL) five times. 

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The Chennai-based franchise on Tuesday, February 20 celebrated 16 years of Dhoni in the cash-rich league. Since joining the franchise in the inaugural edition of the league in 2008, Dhoni has been their face and continues to be so. Having scored over 5,000 runs with 24 fifty-plus scores, the Ranchi cricketer's batting exploits are often overshadowed by his captaincy brilliance. 

Meanwhile, Dhoni recently shed light on the 2008 auction, where he emerged as the highest-paid player. 'Captain Cool' had received an offer from a franchise to join as a marquee player, but he turned it down and went to the auction with a base price of $400,000.

I thought I would easily go for 1 million dollars: Dhoni 

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In the latest interview, the wicketkeeper batter revealed why he rejected the offer and how the risky move earned him $1.5 million from CSK. Dhoni believed that winning the T20 World Cup in 2007 had increased his value and that he would fetch more money if he went to the auction. 

“When the announcement was made for five marquee players, a certain franchise approached me to become one of them. I had to make a quick decision. As the captain of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, I thought I would easily go for 1 million dollars. So, I decided to take a risk and enter the auction. If two out of the three teams that didn’t have marquee players showed interest in me, along with the other franchises, this would increase my chances of getting a higher price,” Dhoni explained to Star Sports.” 

“When a cricket player becomes a marquee player, the franchise owner thinks that they have to pay 10 or 15 percent more to that player. So, in order to avoid this, I decided to enter the auction. This way, if any franchise without a marquee player bought me, I had a better chance of getting more money. During the auction, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought me for 1.5 million dollars (approximately 6 crore). My strategy worked at that point in time,” he added. 

The 42-year-old is now gearing up for his potential last IPL season, which is expected to begin on March 22. With their fifth title in the 2023 season, Dhoni made CSK one of the most successful franchises in league history. If the 2024 edition turns out to be his last dance as a player, he will aim to add another piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet.