Sanjiv Goenka Addresses MS Dhoni Dispute, Silences Critics with Bold Remarks

MS Dhoni and Sanjiv Goenka are known for their mutual respect, despite a history of contentious moments. Speaking on a podcast, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Goenka praised Dhoni’s unparalleled leadership skills, citing how he transformed young talents like Matheesha Pathirana into match-winners for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Goenka recounted Dhoni’s humility, sharing a personal anecdote about the cricketer spending 30 minutes answering his grandson’s cricket-related questions during a match. He attributed Dhoni’s massive fan following and the “yellow fever” in stadiums, even outside Chennai, to his human touch and influence. He said:

You look at MS Dhoni, I have never seen a leader like him. His thinking and way of approach, how a person at his age can reinvent himself. Look at Pathirana, he is a young bowler, Dhoni groomed him to be a lethal matchwinner. He knows how to use his players when and he thinks accordingly. Whenever I interact with him, I get to learn something. It was during the Lucknow vs Chennai match. I have an 11-year-old grandson who is crazy about cricket. 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”.

Goenka also clarified rumors about their past dispute during Dhoni’s tenure at Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG). He stated that Dhoni never spoke publicly after being removed from captaincy and resolved the matter privately. Notably, Dhoni has led CSK to five IPL titles and was retained for INR 4 crore ahead of IPL 2025. Goenka emphasized that their relationship remains strong and marked by mutual admiration.