The year was 2008, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) will start its first journey into the world of cricket. This was a time when T20 cricket was on the increase, and the IPL was set to change the sport. In the middle of this cricketing transformation, one male stuck out– Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the brave leader who had actually assisted India to T20 World Cup magnificence in 2007.
MS Dhoni spun the coin with left hand last time in 2008 IPL. pic.twitter.com/5wb1Hjl8Q1– Div _ (@div_yumm) May 29, 2023
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The IPL Auction – A Star-Studded Affair
The first-ever IPL auction in February 2008 was a star-studded affair, including renowned names from Indian cricket such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh. These gamers were designated as “icon gamers” and were entitled to get 15% more than the highest-paid gamer in their particular groups.
Dhoni’s Absence from the Icon List
Remarkably, MS Dhoni was not a part of this elite group of icon gamers, in spite of his excellent record in both global cricket and the T20 format. This omission left the door open for other franchises to bid for the charming wicket-keeper batter.
Chennai Super Kings’ Clever Strategy
N Srinivasan, the previous ICC chairman and owner of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), was identified to protect Dhoni for his group. He had a smart method up his sleeve. Unlike other franchises, Srinivasan had actually chosen not to opt for any icon gamer for CSK. This choice permitted him to assign more funds for Dhoni.
The Bidding War for Dhoni
When the bidding for MS Dhoni started, it rapidly intensified. Dhoni’s base cost was set at $400,000, however it quickly exceeded the $900,000 mark. At this moment, just 2 franchises, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings, remained in contention to get the services of the World Cup-winning captain.
Mumbai Indians’ Dilemma
As the bidding reached the $1.5 million mark, Mumbai Indians had an awareness. With Sachin Tendulkar currently designated as their icon gamer, signing Dhoni for $1.5 million would take in a substantial part of their $5 million wage cap. In the words of N Srinivasan himself, “When it concerned USD 1.5 million, I believe they understood they would need to pay Sachin [Tendulkar] USD 1.65 million and [MS] Dhoni USD 1.5 million, 5 million was the bag and 60% of the handbag would go on these 2 gamers. They stopped and that’s how we got Dhoni due to the fact that I stated ‘I do not desire an icon’.”
Dhoni’s IPL Earnings Over the Years
Dhoni’s acquisition by CSK in the inaugural IPL auction for $1.5 million marked the start of a famous association. Let’s have a look at Dhoni’s IPL income journey for many years:
2008: Chennai Super Kings – INR 6 crore
2009: Chennai Super Kings – INR 6 crore
2010: Chennai Super Kings – INR 6 crore
2011: Chennai Super Kings – INR 8.28 crore
2012: Chennai Super Kings – INR 8.28 crore
2013: Chennai Super Kings – INR 8.28 crore
2014: Chennai Super Kings – INR 12.5 crore
2015: Chennai Super Kings – INR 12.5 crore
2016: Rising Pune Supergiants – INR 12.5 crore
2017: Rising Pune Supergiants – INR 12.5 crore
2018: Chennai Super Kings – INR 15 crore
2019: Chennai Super Kings – INR 15 crore
2020: Chennai Super Kings – INR 15 crore
2021: Chennai Super Kings – INR 15 crore
2022: Chennai Super Kings – INR 12 crore
2023: Chennai Super Kings – INR 12 crore
Dhoni’s wage skyrocketed throughout the years, showing his extraordinary management and cricketing expertise.
The tactical masterstroke that brought MS Dhoni to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2008 auction is a testimony to N Srinivasan’s shrewdness and insight. It marked the start of a marvelous chapter in IPL history, as Dhoni went on to turn into one of the most renowned figures in the league. His journey from a $1.5 million finalizing to a revered leader in the Chennai Super Kings franchise showcases the effect of tactical decision-making on the planet of cricket.