 "How N Srinivasan's return to CSK with MS Dhoni still around will impact the five-time IPL champions")
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Wednesday announced a massive change in the build-up to the mini-auction for the 2026 Indian Premier League that is scheduled to take place later this year, with former BCCI president and ICC chairman N Srinivasan set to return to the franchise. And it’s not just Srinivasan who returns to the franchise that is the joint-most successful in IPL history, with his daughter Rupa Gurunath also making a comeback ahead of the 19th season.
Srinivasan and Gurunath’s return to the Super Kings was described as a “great boon for CSK” by CEO Kasi Viswanathan on Wednesday. Srinivasan will assume the role of chairman of the Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited (CSKCL), the organisation that owns CSK as well as sister franchises in other leagues across the world, Gurunath will serve as a full-time director.
“See, it’s a great boon for CSK and he’s been the best administrator for us and I’m very happy that he’s come back into CSK. He’ll be in an advisory role only because he doesn’t travel much, but we’ll be in contact with him,” Viswanathan told PTI.
“Both of us are in Chennai only. So he’s in day-to-day contact with us,” he added.
How Srinivasan’s return is set to affect CSK
Srinivasan’s return to the CSK management certainly is an interesting development, especially since the businessman and veteran administrator is 80 years of age and had been retired for several years, opting to stay away from the limelight. He had served as CEO and Managing Director of India Cements until the Chennai-based organisation was acquired by UltraTech Cement last year.
And what makes it even more interesting is the fact that this is the first time Srinivasan has been named on CSKCL’s board of directors.
The development comes more than three months after CSK finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in IPL history, as well as at a time when there’s a giant question mark over MS Dhoni’s future as a player in the world’s richest T20 league.
Impact Shorts
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Srinivasan and Gurunath’s return to the franchise might be a reaction to the franchise failing to reach the IPL playoffs in consecutive seasons, with the Super Kings having narrowly missed out on a top-four finish during their title defence last year.
And an immediate consequence of their high-profile return might be the extension of Dhoni's playing career by at least one more year .
Dhoni is known for being close to Srinivasan, and the latter should be able to persuade the legendary wicketkeeper-batter to ply his trade for at least one more season, even if he has been dealing with a host of fitness-related issues ever since he underwent a knee surgery in 2023.
Srinivasan, who will be overseeing CSKCL’s international ventures in addition to the IPL franchise as chairman, will be hoping his inputs and guidance will come in handy for the Super Kings as they eye a revival next year.
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