The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world since its inception in 2008. The 2016 edition of the IPL promised to be even more exciting, with the introduction of two new teams – Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions.
However, the biggest news that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world was the announcement that MS Dhoni would not be playing for Chennai Super Kings, the team he had led for eight seasons, but would instead be playing for the newly formed Rising Pune Supergiants. In this article, we will take a look at the full drafted list of the Vivo IPL T20 2016 and what this means for Dhoni and his fans.
Background
MS Dhoni is one of the most successful and popular cricketers in India. He has led the Indian cricket team to victory in several international tournaments, including the ICC World Cup in 2011. He has also been the captain of Chennai Super Kings since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and has led the team to two IPL titles, two Champions League T20 titles, and several other accolades.
However, in July 2015, the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two years due to their involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. As a result, Dhoni had to find a new team for the 2016 IPL season.
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The Draft
The 2016 IPL player draft took place on December 15, 2015, and saw eight teams battle it out for the best players. Each team was allowed to pick up to five players, with a maximum of four overseas players. The Rising Pune Supergiants, owned by Sanjiv Goenka, won the bid for MS Dhoni for a whopping Rs 12.5 crores ($1.87 million). This was the highest amount paid for any player in the draft.
Full Drafted List
The following is the full drafted list for the 2016 IPL:
Rising Pune Supergiants
- MS Dhoni
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Steven Smith
- Faf du Plessis
- Mitchell Marsh
- Ashok Dinda
- Ankush Bains
- Rajat Bhatia
- Ishant Sharma
- Adam Zampa
- Jaskaran Singh
- Baba Aparajith
- Deepak Chahar
- Usman Khawaja
- Mayank Agarwal
Gujarat Lions
- Suresh Raina
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Brendon McCullum
- James Faulkner
- Dwayne Bravo
- Aaron Finch
- Dwayne Smith
- Dhawal Kulkarni
- Praveen Kumar
- Andrew Tye
- Ishan Kishan
- Pradeep Sangwan
- Shivil Kaushik
- Akshdeep Nath
- Jaydev Shah
- Umang Sharma
- Amit Mishra
What This Means for Dhoni and His Fans?
MS Dhoni has been the face of Chennai Super Kings for eight seasons and has a massive fan following. His move to the Rising Pune Supergiants was met with mixed reactions from his fans. While some were happy that he would still be playing in the IPL, others were disappointed that he would not be playing for Chennai Super Kings. However, Dhoni himself said that he was looking forward to the new challenge and was excited to be playing for a new team.
The 2016 edition of the IPL was highly anticipated, not only because of the introduction of two new teams, but also because of the dramatic changes in team compositions due to the two-year suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The draft saw some of the biggest names in cricket move to new teams, including MS Dhoni.
While some fans were disappointed with the move, others were excited to see him in a new avatar. The Rising Pune Supergiants had a strong team on paper, with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Steven Smith, and Faf du Plessis joining Dhoni. However, they could not replicate the success of Chennai Super Kings and finished seventh in the tournament.
Despite the disappointment, MS Dhoni remained one of the most popular players in the league and continued to inspire his fans with his leadership and cricketing skills. The IPL has always been a platform for young Indian players to showcase their talent and the 2016 season was no different. Players like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal made a name for themselves in the league and went on to become integral members of the Indian cricket team.
FAQs
Which team did MS Dhoni play for in the 2016 IPL?
MS Dhoni played for Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2016 IPL.
Why did MS Dhoni move to a new team in the 2016 IPL?
MS Dhoni had to find a new team for the 2016 IPL season as his previous team, Chennai Super Kings, was suspended for two years due to their involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.
Which team won the 2016 IPL?
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the 2016 IPL by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.
Who were the new teams in the 2016 IPL?
The two new teams in the 2016 IPL were Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat Lions.
Who was the most expensive player in the 2016 IPL draft?
MS Dhoni was the most expensive player in the 2016 IPL draft, with the Rising Pune Supergiants buying him for Rs 12.5 crores ($1.87 million).
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s move to the Rising Pune Supergiants was one of the biggest talking points of the 2016 IPL. While it was a disappointment for some fans, it was a new challenge for Dhoni and a chance for him to prove his worth in a new team. The 2016 IPL was also a platform for young players to shine and showcase their talent, further cementing its position as one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world.
