A report published in ESPNcricinfo says that MS Dhoni’s CSK is currently the most popular franchise going around in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Generally, if you think about the most popular team in the Indian Premier League, the first name which comes to your mind is Mumbai Indians as they have been the most successful team in the history of the tournament having won the title four times.
Another team that automatically comes to mind is Kolkata Knight Riders. They have also won the title twice, but what enhances their popularity and the brand value is the fact that their name is associated with the Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan who owns a decent share in the franchise.
MS Dhoni‘s CSK has left both MI and KKR behind
But, MS Dhoni’s CSK has tipped both MI and KKR in terms of popularity. It’s a bit of a surprise because CSK as a franchise has experienced some really tough times in the last 5 years or so.
They were banned from playing in the IPL for two long years which was a huge embarrassment for them and it was believed it might shatter their brand value completely, but they managed to sustain their fanbase during the period they were out of the IPL and then the kind of comeback they made in the IPL in 2018, it restored their brand value.
However, it would be interesting to see if CSK manages to sustain its brand value going ahead because Dhoni’s brand value as a player will come down now as he has bid adieu to international cricket and CSK’s brand value as a franchise has depended a lot on Dhoni’s brand value as a player.
CSK will now look for a couple of other players who can turn the franchise into a bigger brand in the years to come. Currently, CSK mostly has got retired international players in their ranks, but in the next year or so, the franchise might look to identify some future superstars and secure their services in the long run.
