MS Dhoni has been an integral part of the Chennai Super Kings since the inception of the Indian Premier League, except for the two seasons in 2016 and 2017, during which the franchise faced a ban due to betting activities linked to its owner, Gurunath Meiyappan, amid the notorious spot-fixing scandal of 2013. During this hiatus, Dhoni played for the Rising Pune Supergiant, one of the two new franchises introduced at that time. In their inaugural season, the team struggled significantly, finishing near the bottom of the standings, but they rebounded impressively to secure the runner-up position the following year. However, before the 2017 IPL season and ahead of the player auction, Rising Pune Supergiant made a surprising decision to appoint Steve Smith as captain, effectively replacing Dhoni.

In hindsight, this decision proved to be prudent, as Smith led RPS to their first final. Nevertheless, the announcement sparked considerable controversy at the time, given Dhoni's esteemed legacy, having already secured two IPL titles with CSK. This significant change prompted a strong backlash from fans. The specifics of the discussions between Dhoni and team owner Sanjiv Goenka remain undisclosed. However, even after seven years, Goenka, who is now the owner of Lucknow Super Giants, maintains a positive and amicable relationship with Dhoni.

"That was a long time ago. But whatever happened, it happened with a very clear dialogue. I share a very close and warm relationship with MS Dhoni even today. Decisions could be right or wrong – only time will tell. But whether a decision is logical or illogical is a point that matters. Why did I make the decision? That becomes the perspective. And I said it back then and will say this again today 'Every interaction with Mahi, I walk out after learning something'," Goenka remarked during his conversation with Ranveer Allahabadia on the podcast TRS Clips.

Dhoni will never utter a word about it, says Goenka

In the days leading up to the announcement of the change in leadership, Dhoni had resigned as the captain of India's limited-overs team, while Steve Smith was excelling in both his batting and captaincy roles. One can draw parallels between Dhoni in 2017 and KL Rahul in 2014; however, unlike Dhoni, Rahul was not retained by LSG. Nevertheless, Goenka continues to support his choice of appointing Steve Smith as the captain of RPS and informing Dhoni of this decision, as he stated years ago. Regarding the nature of that communication, Goenka is confident that it will remain confidential indefinitely.

"I recently had a conversation with him. He was sharing insights with my son Shashwat about how cricket can provide valuable lessons for his business. This sense of warmth and camaraderie is significant. At a certain point, one must not allow external factors to affect them. To claim that it does not have an impact would be misleading. I consider myself a very self-assured individual. I am aware in my heart whether my decisions are genuine. Sincerity instils confidence, and regardless of what others may say, the truth will eventually emerge," Goenka remarked.

"I cannot say who was responsible, but MS has remained silent and will continue to do so. This is a private matter between two individuals who reached a mutual understanding. What truly matters is that we maintain a cordial relationship."

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