Former CSK batsman Subramaniam Badrinath has revealed CSK management’s first choice for the captain was Virender Sehwag and not MS Dhoni. At the inception of the Indian Premier League, the Chennai Super Kings franchise wanted India’s star former batsman Virender Sehwag as their skipper, but he decided to stay with his domestic side Delhi Daredevils.
CSK reached the final in the maiden season of IPL under MS Dhoni’s captaincy but lost the title to Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals. Since then Dhoni has been the captain of the side and has led the CSK side to 3 IPL wins and 2 CL T20 wins.
MS Dhoni and S Badrinath. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Virender Sehwag was CSK’s first choice skipper in 2008: S Badrinath
Former Indian cricketer S Badrinath has made an interesting revelation on the first season of IPL. According to him CSK’s first choice for the captain was Sehwag, but he was adamant to stay with Delhi for whom he has also played domestic cricket. India had just won the 2007 T20 World Cup under the captaincy of MS Dhoni and CSK decided to bring him in the team.
“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. Badrinath said on his Youtube channel.
Image Credits: Twitter
“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.”
“MS Dhoni coming to CSK was killing three birds with one stone,” says S Badrinath
Dhoni was the most expensive signing of the inaugural IPL. Badrinath felt that MSD’s signing added to the CSK squad a perfect captain, a perfect finisher, and a perfect wicket-keeper, thus killing three birds with one stone.
“In 2008, MS Dhoni was the most expensive player, they bought him for INR 6 crores. So this is a story you probably don’t know but Dhoni was picked instead of Sehwag. 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. Second, the best finisher. A finisher is a very important part of all the best T20 teams around the world. Badrinath said.
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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.”he added.
CSK have won the IPL title 3 times and MSD will be looking to add one more piece of silverware to his huge collection. MS Dhoni will be back in action in September leading CSK in the 13th edition of the IPL. The tournament starts on the 19th of September and the final will be played on November 10.
