MS Dhoni Back as Captain: Is he Still Leading Off the Field as a Top Income Taxpayer?
In FY 2023–24, MS Dhoni paid Rs 38 crore in taxes and earned over Rs 100 crore from 42–52 brand endorsements, continuing to shine off the field with top-tier tax contributions
MS Dhoni – MS Dhoni Back as Captain – Still Leading Off the Field – Top Income Taxpayer – taxscan
MS Dhoni – MS Dhoni Back as Captain – Still Leading Off the Field – Top Income Taxpayer – taxscan
MS Dhoni’s return as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) has created a wave of excitement among fans. But beyond the cricket field, is Dhoni still leading in terms of his financial contributions, especially as one of India’s top income taxpayers?
We’ll take a detailed but easy-to-understand look at both sides of the story—his comeback as CSK’s captain and his impressive status as a consistent high taxpayer and brand icon.
Dhoni’s Return as CSK Captain
At 43 years old, MS Dhoni is back at the helm of CSK, stepping in after Ruturaj Gaikwad suffered an elbow fracture that ruled him out of the IPL 2025 season. This marks another chapter in Dhoni’s legendary leadership journey with the team. Under his guidance, CSK has already won five IPL titles, tying them with Mumbai Indians for the most in tournament history.
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CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, confirmed that Dhoni agreed to take over captaincy again. Interestingly, Dhoni is listed as an “uncapped player” due to his retirement from international cricket, a technical detail under IPL rules.
At the time of this announcement on April 10, 2025, CSK had only won one out of five matches. With the team struggling, many, including former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly and Ambati Rayudu, believe Dhoni’s leadership could help turn things around.
Income Tax Contributions: Then and Now
Off the field, Dhoni’s financial profile is equally compelling. MS Dhoni has long been a huge contributor to India’s tax system. In the financial year 2023–24, he paid a whopping Rs 38 crore in income tax, making him the second-highest taxpayer among Indian cricketers. Only Virat Kohli paid more (Rs 66 crore), and Sachin Tendulkar came third with Rs 28 crore.
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Dhoni’s consistency in paying high taxes reflects his steady earnings over the years. For example, in the financial year 2017–18, he paid Rs 12.17 crore, becoming the top taxpayer in Jharkhand and Bihar at the time.
As of April 2025, there is no confirmed tax data available for MS Dhoni for the year 2025 (they’re typically released in July). This is because people usually file their taxes for the 2024–25 financial year a little later.
If Dhoni continues to earn from the same sources, like the IPL, brand endorsements, and his investments, he is expected to remain one of India’s top taxpayers. Even though he has retired from international cricket, his brand remains strong, and he continues to earn a lot.
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Changes in his IPL performance or the number of brand deals he gets could affect how much tax he pays. But so far, there’s no sign that his income has gone down in a big way.
Brand Endorsements
Even after retiring from international cricket, Dhoni is one of the most in-demand celebrities for advertisements. In 2024, he was associated with between 42 to 52 brands, more than any other Indian celebrity. For comparison, Amitabh Bachchan endorsed 41 brands, and Shah Rukh Khan 34.
Some major companies that have worked with Dhoni include: Citroën (automobiles), Mastercard (financial services), Gulf Oil (lubricants), Lay’s (snacks), Flipkart’s Cleartrip (travel), Orient Electric (home appliances), EMotorad (electric bicycles), Explosive Whey (nutrition), Garuda Aerospace (drone tech).
He reportedly earns between Rs 4 to 6 crore per endorsement deal, and in some cases, even up to Rs 7 crore. This puts his estimated annual endorsement income above Rs 100 crore. He also participates in public service campaigns, such as working with the Election Commission during Jharkhand’s elections to boost voter turnout, adding a civic dimension to his brand appeal.
Conclusion
MS Dhoni’s income tax payments and brand endorsements show how much he continues to achieve off the cricket field. In the financial year 2023–24, he paid Rs 38 crore in income tax. In 2024, Dhoni worked with 42 to 52 different brands and made over Rs 100 crore from endorsements. Big companies like Citroën and Mastercard were among his top deals. Although the exact numbers for 2025 are not out yet, his active role in the IPL and strong brand image suggest that his earnings will stay the same or even grow.
In short, MS Dhoni is still very much a captain on the field for CSK and off the field in India’s financial and branding arenas.
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