High Court Orders Trial in MS Dhoni INR 100 Crore Defamation Case

The IPL 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal was one of the darkest moments in Indian cricket. Several players were found guilty of spot-fixing. Two popular franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), were suspended for two years. The bans came after betting activities by some of their officials were exposed.
At that time, MS Dhoni was the captain of both the Chennai Super Kings and the Indian national team. He was not charged with any wrongdoing. However, his name appeared in some media reports and debates. These references connected him to the scandal without evidence. Feeling that his reputation was harmed, Dhoni filed a defamation case in 2014.

Nearly 10 years after the case was filed, the Madras High Court has finally ordered the trial to begin in former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni defamation case. The case is worth INR 100 crore and is linked to the Indian Premier League 2013 betting and spot-fixing scandal. The court has appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s testimony in Chennai. This recording will take place between October 20 and December 10, 2025.

MS Dhoni Defamation Case After IPL 2013 Match Fixing

The lawsuit was filed against Zee Media Corporation, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, retired IPS officer G. Sampath Kumar, and News Nation Network. Dhoni sought INR 100 crore in damages. He alleged that the accused made false statements and linked him to the scandal without proof. On August 11, 2025, Justice C.V. Karthikeyan ordered that Dhoni’s evidence should be recorded by an advocate commissioner. The location for recording will be mutually decided by all parties. This means MS Dhoni will not have to testify in an open court setting.

MS Dhoni Statement on Avoiding Delays in Defamation Case

MS Dhoni’s lawyer, senior counsel P.R. Raman, submitted an affidavit to the court. The affidavit stressed that the case had already been pending for over a decade. MS Dhoni, one of the best Indian Test captains, agreed to cooperate fully with the advocate commissioner to ensure fairness and avoid more delays.
“The above request is made with the intent to avoid any undue delay and to support the fair, just, and speedy adjudication of the suit. I shall extend my full co-operation with the Advocate Commissioner and comply with all directions issued by this honourable court regarding the trial and the recording of evidence,” read the MS Dhoni statement.
Over the years, the trial faced many delays. Multiple applications were filed by different parties. Various procedural challenges slowed the progress further. This meant the case remained unresolved for almost 10 years.
Now, with the court’s latest order, the trial process can finally begin.
Notably, MS Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020. However, he still plays in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings. Under his leadership, CSK has remained one of the most successful teams in the IPL.
The court’s decision to proceed with the trial marks a major step in a long legal battle. It will be a huge step for one of the greatest IPL captains of all time. For Dhoni, it is a chance to put the matter to rest and clear his name once and for all. Moreover, there is also a ton of ongoing speculation around the wicketkeeper batter's return to the cash-rich league in the 2026 season. Given that he has suffered from knee-related fitness issues recently, a return seems unlikely. The cricketer, however, has not confirmed anything about the situation.