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'That Is Why He Is Dhoni': LSG Owner Sanjiv Goenka Frames CSK Legend’s Eminence

Bhargav Dixit

MS Dhoni meets Sanjiv Goenka. [Source: @Vidyadhar_R/X]MS Dhoni meets Sanjiv Goenka. [Source: @Vidyadhar_R/X]


The fact that not just his teammates and opponents but franchise owners are also mesmerized by his persona is what truly defines former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The latest occurrence of the same has become public in the form of Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka expressing approval of the former CSK captain.

Featuring on the latest episode of The Ranveer Show, Goenka shared a personal anecdote involving MS Dhoni and his grandson where the former spent 30 minutes to give the latter, a cricket enthusiast, a chat to cherish for throughout his life.

“I have an 11-year-old grandson who is crazy about cricket. [MS] Dhoni, in my home, taught him how to play cricket, some 5-6 years ago. He constantly asked him questions and I told my grandson ‘Leave him now’. Dhoni replied, ‘Let it be, I am enjoying this conversation'. Dhoni went on to have a conversation with him for half an hour. This human quality with a kid where he spent so much time for a kid. It makes you learn how to speak with others and that is why he is Dhoni. Whenever he plays against Lucknow, the entire stadium is filled with yellow to support him,” the RPSG Chairman said on TRS.

Sanjiv Goenka Had Bought MS Dhoni For INR 12.5 Crore

For the unversed, Goenka and Dhoni had worked together during the two-year existence of Rising Pune Supergiant between 2016-2017. With Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals banned for a couple of years, Goenka had bought one of the two new franchises back in the day.

Having got the opportunity to pick the first player during the draft process held before IPL 2016 auction, Goenka had unsurprisingly acquired Dhoni’s services for INR 12.5 crore. With the franchise, under Dhoni, finishing at the seventh position on the points table in 2016, the legendary captain was replaced by former Australia captain Steven Smith.

While 2016 was the first instance of Dhoni not leading his IPL team to the playoffs, 2017 was the first instance of him playing the tournament as a specialist wicket-keeper batter. Across the two seasons, Dhoni scored 574 runs at an average and strike rate of 31.89 and 124.78 respectively including a couple of half-centuries.

Goenka, who owns LSG since its inception in 2022, now meets Dhoni as an opponent. Across his four innings against Lucknow, Dhoni’s 60 runs have come at a magnificent strike rate of 315.79.