Chennai Super Kings, or CSK, is one of the most loved teams in the Indian Premier League, and they had to face a shocking 2-year suspension in 2016 and 2017. They are known for winning the IPL title five times and for the leadership of MS Dhoni. The fans were heartbroken due to the suspension of the Chennai Super Kings. This team was linked to a betting scandal, which completely shocked the cricketing world. In this article, we have shared all the reasons for this, its figures have been explained, and the journey afterwards has been described, so let’s move ahead in the article.
CSK Overview
Chennai Super Kings is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and is a powerhouse of the IPL. It was founded in 2008. It is run by Chennai Super Kings Limited, and this IPL team has won the IPL title five times and reached the IPL finals 10 times. Despite their success, they had to face a 2-year suspension due to the 2013 betting scandal, which had a huge impact on their fan base and their fans.
| Field | Details |
| Team Name | Chennai Super Kings |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Home Ground | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Titles | 5 IPL, 2 CLT20 |
| Known For | MS Dhoni’s leadership, fanbase |
The 2013 Betting Scandal
In 2013, the IPL was hit by a massive betting and spot-fixing scandal. Gurunath Meiyappan, a Chennai official and son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan, was arrested for sharing betting and team information. His actions were exposed during the IPL final, and widespread outrage ensued, damaging the reputation of the franchise.
| Detail | Information |
| Year | 2013 |
| Key Figure | Gurunath Meiyappan |
| Accusation | Betting, sharing team info |
| Arrest Date | May 24, 2013 |
| Impact | CSK’s reputation is damaged |
Role of the Lodha Committee
The Supreme Court appointed the Lodha Committee, headed by former Chief Justice RM Lodha, to investigate the scandal. In July 2015, the committee found Meiyappan and Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra guilty of betting. To restore the integrity of the IPL, both Chennai and Rajasthan were banned for 2016 and 2017.
| Detail | Information |
| Committee | Lodha Committee |
| Formed | 2013 |
| Head | R.M. Lodha |
| Verdict | CSK, RR banned for 2 years |
| Announcement | July 14, 2015 |
Impact on CSK and Players
Due to this scandal, Chennai Super Kings had to release their players, and they joined new teams like Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions. Mahendra Singh Dhoni captained the Pune team, but fans missed the yellow jersey a lot. The absence of the franchise created a lot of confusion in the IPL, and fans regularly expressed their disappointment on social media.
| Detail | Information |
| Ban Years | 2016, 2017 |
| Player Impact | Joined other teams |
| Dhoni’s Team | Rising Pune Supergiants |
| Fan Reaction | Disappointment on social media |
| IPL Impact | Revenue loss |
Gurunath Meiyappan’s Punishment
Gurunath Meiyappan, the team principal of Chennai, had to face serious consequences. The Lodha Committee banned him from cricketing activities for life, and he was also arrested by the Mumbai police. He was found guilty of cheating and conspiracy, and he also ruined the image of Chennai. A lot of questions were raised about the team management as well. This makes them number 1 fixing team in IPL in public eyes.
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Gurunath Meiyappan |
| Role | CSK Team Principal |
| Punishment | Life ban from cricket |
| Charges | Betting, conspiracy |
| Arrest | May 24, 2013 |
N. Srinivasan’s Role and Controversy
N. Srinivasan, the de facto owner of Chennai and the BCCI president at that time, had to face scrutiny for his son-in-law’s actions. The Supreme Court criticised his conflict of interest and removed him from the role of BCCI president. He was not jailed, but a lot of questions were raised about his leadership. Chennai Super Kings also distanced themselves from him and never came close to him again to protect their franchise.
| Detail | Information |
| Name | N. Srinivasan |
| Role | BCCI President, CSK owner |
| Controversy | Conflict of interest |
| Punishment | Banned from BCCI roles |
| Jail Status | Not jailed |
CSK’s Comeback in 2018
Chennai Super Kings returned to the IPL in 2018 and won the title. Their comeback under Dhoni’s leadership was like their documentary Roar of the Lion, and it was a very good story. Fans celebrated their victory very well and also gave a lot of praise to the players when they reclaimed their glory.
| Detail | Information |
| Return Year | 2018 |
| Achievement | Won IPL title |
| Key Player | MS Dhoni |
| Documentary | Roar of the Lion |
| Fan Response | Massive support |
CSK’s Brand Value and Net Worth
Despite the ban, the brand value of Chennai Super Kings has risen to $122 million, that is Rs. 1055 crores in 2025, making it the most valuable IPL Franchise. Their net worth comes from sponsorships like TVS Eurogrip, and their market strength reflects that their value did fall a bit due to the temporary ban. It was $72 million in 2014, which reduced to $67 million in 2015.
| Detail | Information |
| Brand Value | $231 million (2025) |
| Net Worth Sources | Sponsorships, fanbase |
| Key Sponsors | Etihad Airways, TVS Eurogrip |
| Value Drop | $72M to $67M (2014-2015) |
Social Media popularity of CSK
The social media presence of Chennai Super Kings is quite massive, and they have millions followers on Instagram and millions of followers on Twitter too. Their official account is handled by very good people, and funny, real content is posted here. Their 2018 comeback and Dhoni’s leadership were already posted here, and a lot of moments from 2025 are also uploaded here, which are viral and keep the fans engaged.
| Platform | Handle | Followers (2025) |
| @chennaiipl | 19M | |
| @ChennaiIPL | 10.3M |
Reforms and IPL’s Response
Because of this scandal, IPL regulations were made even stricter, and the BCCI introduced anti-corruption measures. The trust lost due to this scandal was restored, and now no team or official is above the game. The punishment of Chennai Super Kings has set a good example, and in the future, if any team wants to try something like this, they will remember the consequences faced by Chennai Super Kings in advance and will not want to do it again.
| Detail | Information |
| Reforms | Anti-corruption measures |
| Authority | BCCI |
| Impact | Restored trust in IPL |
| Precedent | Accountability for teams |
FAQs
Q1) Why did CSK get banned for 2 years?
CSK was banned for 2016 and 2017 due to Gurunath Meiyappan’s betting and sharing team information during IPL 2013. The Lodha Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court, suspended CSK to uphold IPL integrity.
Q2) What happened in 2016 with CSK?
In 2016, CSK was absent from the IPL due to their two-year ban. Players like MS Dhoni joined Rising Pune Supergiants, and the team was replaced by new franchises.
Q3) Who is the owner of CSK in jail?
No CSK owner was jailed. Gurunath Meiyappan, a team official, was arrested for betting but released on bail. N. Srinivasan, the de facto owner, faced no jail time.
Q4) Will Dhoni play IPL 2025?
MS Dhoni is confirmed to play for CSK in IPL 2025 as an uncapped player for ₹4 crore, per CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, despite earlier retirement rumors.
Q5) Who is the CEO of CSK?
Kasi Viswanathan is the CEO of Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited, managing team operations and representing CSK in press conferences.
