Dhoni was not the first choice of captain for CSK, it was THIS player; details
- IndiaGlitz, [Saturday,September 12 2020]
MS Dhoni is arguably one of the best captains in the history of Indian Premier League as he led the Chennai Super Kings to victory three times and also made way for them into the finals five other times. The CSK team has also qualified for the play-offs in every edition of the tournament under Dhoni's captaincy. However, former CSK batsman Subramaniam Badrinath has revealed that Dhoni was not the first choice of captain for the team when the IPL was inaugurated in 2008, but it was Delhi Capitals' (Delhi Daredevils then) Virender Sehwag who was originally chosen to lead CSK.
Sehwag apparently refused the offer stating that he was brought up in Delhi and hence would have a better connection. Dhoni was then singed up to lead the team after India won the T20 World Cup in 2007. IPL started in 2008, and if you see who was the first option for Chennai Super Kings, it was Virender Sehwag. 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. 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. According to me, MS Dhoni coming to CSK was killing three birds with one stone. One, he is one of the best captains the world has ever seen. There is no trophy that he doesn't have, Badrinath stated.
Second, the best finisher. A finisher is a very important part of all the best T20 teams around the world. Even if you see all the good teams today, Mumbai Indians have Pollard, Kolkata Knight Riders have Andre Russell, CSK have MS Dhoni. And third, he is an excellent wicketkeeper. One of the best and safest keepers I have ever seen, the former batsman further added.