'A Gift From Thala': Chennai Super Kings Confirm Return of MS Dhoni Ahead of IPL 2024

The joint-most successful side in the history of the IPL, Chennai Super Kings, announced that charismatic skipper MS Dhoni will continue to lead the team in the upcoming edition of the money-rich tournament.

The celebrated captain will return to the famous CSK outfit to defend the title that he claimed in the previous edition of the IPL.

CSK shared a post on social media platform X that read, “2024- A Gift from Thala! Start the whistles!”

The five-time champions confirmed that ‘Thala’, as he is fondly known in local circles in and around the city of Chennai, will sport the famous yellow of the side from Tamil Nade in the upcoming season.

The previous campaign was touted as what could be Dhoni’s final IPL season, as the former Indian captain and World Cup winner walked out to a massive reception every time he walked out on to the field to bat or keep wickets.

The Chennai packed the MA Chidambaram Stadium for each home game and made their love for the captain known. In fact, it almost felt like CSK were playing at home even on the road as fans draped in the yellow pored into the stadiums to express their love for the man who has won it all.

IPL teams released the list of players they would like to retain and would like to release ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE on the 19th of December.

CSK released 8 players and will head to the auction with a purse of 31.4 Crore Rupees.

The Chennai-based outfit decided to let go of English all-rounder Ben Stokes, South Africans Dwaine Pretorius, Sisanda Magala, Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson, Indian players Bhagath Varma, Shubranshu Senapati, and Akash Singh, while Ambati Rayudu decided to hang up his boots following the title triumph last season.