Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stalwart Suresh Raina has provided an intriguing insight into MS Dhoni’s role in the franchise’s auction strategies, suggesting that the legendary captain is not as deeply involved as many fans might believe. Speaking in a recent interview, Raina shared, “He’s not that involved,” highlighting that while Dhoni’s inputs are valued, the primary responsibility of player selection and auction planning rests with the CSK management team.
Over the years, MS Dhoni has become synonymous with CSK’s success. His calm leadership, tactical brilliance, and immense cricketing brain have been central to the franchise’s rise as one of the most successful teams in IPL history. Given his stature, it was long assumed that Dhoni played a hands-on role in shaping CSK’s squad every season. However, Raina’s comments paint a slightly different picture, suggesting that while Dhoni is certainly consulted, he chooses not to micromanage the auction process.
According to Raina, Dhoni prefers to focus on the players once they are part of the squad, concentrating more on preparing them, utilizing their strengths, and blending them into the team’s culture. The heavy lifting during auctions, including scouting, strategizing, and bidding, is largely handled by the CSK think tank, led by CEO Kasi Viswanathan, head coach Stephen Fleming, and other core members of the support staff. Dhoni’s philosophy, it seems, is to trust the system, back the team management’s calls, and then work on molding the final squad into a winning unit.
This revelation underscores the larger leadership style Dhoni has exhibited throughout his career — one rooted in trust, empowerment, and focus on controllable factors. Rather than getting bogged down with administrative decisions, Dhoni has always prioritized on-field performance and team chemistry. His belief in delegating responsibilities and empowering people around him has been a hallmark of both his captaincy for India and for CSK.
Raina also noted that Dhoni does provide key inputs when asked, particularly regarding the type of players the team might need — such as finishers, all-rounders, or death-over specialists — but he does not dominate discussions or insist on specific picks. This balanced involvement ensures that the team maintains a collective vision rather than being overly dependent on one individual, even someone as iconic as Dhoni.
Interestingly, this approach might be one of the reasons CSK has remained a stable and consistent franchise over the years. While other teams often overhaul their squads dramatically after a poor season, CSK tends to retain faith in its core group and only make surgical changes when absolutely necessary. This culture of stability and loyalty has been a key part of their enduring success and has helped young players grow in a secure environment.
As CSK moves into a new era with Dhoni likely stepping back further from active playing duties, Raina’s insights offer a glimpse into how the franchise might continue to function smoothly. With a strong system in place and a leadership model that values collective input, CSK looks well-prepared for the future, even beyond the towering shadow of MS Dhoni.