Dhoni leads a star-studded Chennai team, the 2010 Indian Premier League champions, with batsmen Murali Vijay, Matthew Hayden, Suresh Raina and Albie Morkel, and star spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan all picked for Chennai's first match of the tournament.
The Central Stags are captained by Jamie How and have New Zealand international Matthew Sinclair.
However, the Stags are missing all-rounder Jacob Oram and Graham Napier, who are ruled out of the tournament through injury, and leading batsman Ross Taylor who will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Teams:
Central Districts Stags: JM How (capt), PJ Ingram, GH Worker, MS Sinclair, BBJ Griggs (wk), BJ Diamanti, K Noema-Barnett, DAJ Bracewell, AF Milne, MJ McClenaghan, MJ Mason