&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "MS Dhoni-CSK Fallout? Report claims failed stake sale talks triggered rift")
In a strange development surrounding one of IPL’s greatest teams, its veteran captain's falling out with the franchise has made headlines. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and its former skipper MS Dhoni have reportedly disagreed over honouring each other's demands during a failed discussion about CSK's stake sales. Dhoni and CSK have been synonymous since the competition’s inception in 2008. Since Dhoni took over CSK’s captaincy from day one and led them to an unprecedented run for nearly 15 years, winning five titles and several across the now-defunct Champions League competition, no one thought a day would come when the two would differ over any point.
While Dhoni remains an active CSK player, having last featured in the 2025 edition, he aims to bolster his affiliation with the star IPL franchise by acquiring a stake in the team. However, after talks between the team management and Thala fell through, speculation about their ties was raised.
A Cricblogger report, also carried out by several publications, suggests that Dhoni intended to acquire a 25% stake in the franchise, but the team owners were willing to offer him only 3%. Dhoni then reduced his demand to 20%, only for the owners to offer a per cent increase in the counteroffer. Dhoni, however, further reduced the number to 18%, but CSK’s final counteroffer of 5.5% led to the breakdown.
“Dhoni wanted to buy a stake. He wasn’t asking for it for free, but the CSK management thought otherwise," a source close to the information said, as quoted in the report.
What is next for Dhoni and CSK?
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Dhoni is CSK’s most-capped player, having featured most times for the franchise, barring the last one. A stiff and persistent calf injury kept him out of action from IPL 2026, where CSK failed to reach the playoffs. Even though his playing days are numbered due to his age and fitness, this latest episode would likely determine his future ahead of IPL 2027.
CSK is also without a head coach after mutually parting ways with Stephen Fleming after this season. Several former players have suggested a few names for the new coach, including urging Dhoni to fill the vacant spot; nothing has been formalised yet. It remains to be seen what happens next.
