The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season has sparked an unexpected legal battle off the field. Sun TV Network Ltd recently filed a civil suit in the Madras High Court against MS Dhoni-starrer Chennai Super Kings Ltd to stop the cricket franchise from using specific film songs in promotional videos.
The controversy revolves around the unauthorized use of music from Rajinikanth’s films. Sun TV Network wants to stop CSK from using tracks from Jailer, Coolie and Jailer 2. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy is scheduled to hear the television network’s interim injunction plea regarding the issue on Friday.
Controversy has started over CSK due to MS Dhoni’s promotional video.
The controversy started when Chennai Super Kings launched their new jersey for the upcoming tournament. MS Dhoni reached the city to participate in the launch event. The franchise made a promotional video showcasing his grand entry during the jersey presentation.
Notably, the social media team added the popular “Hukum” song from the film water For video. Sun Pictures, which operates under the Sun TV Network banner, originally produced the hit Rajinikanth film.
His unapproved use of copyrighted music immediately attracted the attention of the production company. It is noteworthy that Sun TV Network Limited is the owner of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL.
Sun TV Network Limited has filed a civil suit #MadrasHighCourt Stopping Chennai Super Kings Limited from using songs from Rajinikanth starrer Jailer, Coolie and Jailer 2 in their promos. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamurthy is scheduled to hear the hearing on television…
– Mohammad Imranullah S (@imranhindu) 13 March 2026
Kavya Maran takes legal action against rival franchise
Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran, who is closely associated with the Sun Network business, took the matter seriously. He filed a formal copyright claim against the Chennai-based franchise.
The legal challenge immediately turned the publicity mistake into controversy. Facing immediate legal pressure and a court case in Chennai, the Chennai Super Kings management decided to back out.
They immediately removed the controversial promotional video from all their official social media platforms. The franchise later re-released the exact same footage after replacing the copyrighted audio with different background music.
MS Dhoni starts preparations for IPL 2026 amid legal tension between franchises
Despite the ongoing legal drama between the owners, the players are focusing on their cricket preparations. MS Dhoni has started practicing in the nets for the tournament.
Many pictures and videos of his current training session are continuously going viral among cricket fans on the internet. The Indian Premier League 2026 tournament is expected to begin on March 28 and the final will be played on May 31.
It is noteworthy that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the schedule of the first phase of IPL 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match of IPL 2026 on March 28 in Bengaluru. Chennai Super Kings will begin their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.
The upcoming match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings will bring additional tension. Fans of both the teams are already discussing the off-field clash on social media. While the legal teams are arguing in the Madras High Court, cricket supporters are preparing for a fight on the field.
Also read: “Don’t come to meet me”: Deepak Chahar reveals MS Dhoni’s cold behavior