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'If I give you advice, it doesn't mean you have to follow...': MS Dhoni reveals his conversation with Ruturaj Gaikwad after CSK's four-wicket win against MI

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain lavished praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad for his captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sports Tak

• Mon • 24 Mar 2025

MS Dhoni (2L) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (2R) inspect the ball during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai

Highlights:

CSK defeated MI by four wickets in the IPL 2025 tournament opener.

CSK will face RCB on their second IPL 2025 clash.

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper MS Dhoni revealed his conversation with current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after registering a four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians in their tournament's opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Dhoni is one of the legendary captains to led an IPL team in the history of the tournament.

CSK won five IPL titles under MS Dhoni's captaincy which is joint most by any team. The legendary wicketkeeper batter left his captaincy before IPL 2024 and the franchise appointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as his successor. After Gaikwad's captaincy, fans speculated that it was Dhoni who is making decisions in CSK. However former CSK skipper revealed that he told Gaikwad that if he is giving advice to him then it doesn't mean he has to follow that.

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"Ruturaj has been part of us for quite some time. His temperament is very good, he's very calm, very composed. So those were the reasons we considered him for leadership"said Dhoni on Jio Hotstar.

"Before the start of the tournament, I also told him, 'If I give you advice, it doesn't mean you have to follow it. I will try to stay away as much as possible.' During the season, a lot of people speculated that I was making the decisions in the background," Dhoni recalled.

Dhoni also revealed that Ruturaj Gaikwad is making 99 per cent of decisions on the field including bowling changes, field placements.

"But the fact is, he was making 99 per cent of the decisions. The most important calls -- bowling changes, field placements -- were all his. I was just helping him out. He did a brilliant job of handling the players," he added.

Chennai Super Kings will now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru for their second clash of the tournament which will take place on March 28 at the same venue. Both CSK and RCB have already won their first clash of the mega event.