The news surrounding the reported MS Dhoni CSK stake has sparked widespread discussion online. Fans want to know whether the former captain really asked Chennai Super Kings for a significant stake in the franchise.
However, a recent Cricbuzz report suggests Dhoni made no such demand. A senior CSK official denied the claims, saying, “MS has never asked us about it. We never discussed the matter. We also don’t have any information about him having discussed this with Mr N Srinivasan either.”
But that doesn’t mean Dhoni owns no part of CSK. According to the same report, the former CSK captain already holds more than one lakh shares in Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited.
Does MS Dhoni Own CSK Shares?
The direct answer is yes. MS Dhoni reportedly owns more than one lakh shares in Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited.
But how can Dhoni own CSK shares when the company has not gone public?
CSK is an unlisted company. That means its shares are not traded publicly on a stock exchange. However, investors can still acquire shares privately through off-market transactions. According to Cricbuzz, Dhoni acquired his shares when they became available for purchase.
Despite owning more than one lakh shares, Dhoni does not become one of the major owners of the franchise. His holding represents only a tiny fraction of CSK’s overall share capital and does not give him significant control over the franchise.
How Much Stake Does MS Dhoni Own in CSK?
The reported number for Dhoni’s holding in the company stands at more than one lakh shares. In isolation, that number might seem enormous. But that is not the case when compared with CSK’s overall shareholding.
According to Cricbuzz, more than 30 crore outstanding shares are held by the public, accounting for close to 40% of the franchise’s total share capital. The Srinivasan family, meanwhile, holds a controlling stake of more than 55%.
This puts the MS Dhoni CSK stake into perspective. His one lakh-plus shares account for only a fraction of the overall equity and do not give him any significant control over the franchise.
Cricbuzz estimates that Dhoni’s holding could currently be worth around ₹2.6-3 crore, although this is an estimated valuation rather than a publicly traded market price.
CSK Deny Reports of Dhoni Seeking a Bigger Stake
This brings us back to the original question: did MS Dhoni really ask for a bigger stake in CSK?
According to the franchise, the answer is no. Earlier reports had claimed that Dhoni wanted to acquire a significant stake in CSK. However, the team management has now denied that any such discussions took place.
The CSK official also said the franchise had no information about Dhoni separately discussing the matter with N Srinivasan.
For now, claims that Dhoni sought a larger stake in CSK remain unsubstantiated.
MS Dhoni’s Influence at CSK
The fact that the management is waiting for Dhoni’s input on the head coach should be enough to show the influence he continues to hold at the franchise.
While there has been plenty of discussion around his future, Cricbuzz reports that CSK are waiting for Dhoni’s return before moving forward with the head-coach selection. The management is also expected to discuss transfers and trades after his return.
While CSK officials maintain that they are yet to identify Stephen Fleming’s successor, sources cited by Cricbuzz suggest the franchise has zeroed in on an overseas candidate who is also believed to be in talks with another team.
Dhoni may not control CSK through his shareholding, but he continues to have considerable influence over its cricketing decisions.
