Former Indian cricket captain and legendary player MS Dhoni recently revealed in an interview why he chose to decline the IPL marquee player offer during the initial auction. Despite retiring from international cricket, Dhoni continues to be an iconic figure and remains the face of Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) first started, Dhoni was offered the chance to be a marquee player, similar to other cricket greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Sourav Ganguly. At that time, the franchises of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, and Hyderabad had not yet finalized their marquee players. Dhoni took a calculated risk by refusing the offer.

He explained, “I was offered $1 million as a marquee player. But since I was the Indian team captain then, I believed I could fetch a higher price in the open auction. So, I rejected the offer. Later, Chennai bid $1.5 million for me, securing my permanent spot in the team.”

With a smile, Dhoni added that if the dollar rate had been higher back then, he would have earned even more. Meanwhile, his contemporaries—Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Sourav Ganguly—accepted the marquee player roles.

Dhoni’s decision turned out to be a smart move, strengthening his IPL career. Today, he remains a vital part of Chennai Super Kings’ success and legacy.