Legendary MS Dhoni will be back on the field for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, though not as their captain. Dhoni recently stepped down from the leadership role, handing it over to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Despite this, Dhoni is expected to play a major supporting role for the new skipper. Just before the opening match of IPL 2024, a video of Dhoni imitating Ravindra Jadeja's celebration style from last season's finale went viral on social media. This playful moment has fans excited to see Dhoni back in action.
The IPL 2024 season kicks off on Friday, March 22 with CSK facing off against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This will be a homecoming match for CSK, as they take on Faf du Plessis's RCB. In a surprising turn of events just a day before the season opener, CSK fans learned that MS Dhoni would be relinquishing the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. This news came to light after Gaikwad, instead of Dhoni, attended the IPL 2024 trophy photoshoot.
MS Dhoni recreates Jadeja's winning celebration from IPL 2023 final
Dhoni has been training hard with his CSK teammates in preparation for the IPL season. A recent video circulating on social media shows Dhoni imitating teammate Ravindra Jadeja's celebratory pose during a practice session.
Jadeja became a hero last season by hitting a winning boundary off the final ball of the match. His celebratory run with arms raised became a popular image. Fans were delighted to see Dhoni playfully recreate this celebration during training, hinting at a lighthearted atmosphere within the CSK camp.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE…
Last Season's Heroics and Dhoni's Captaincy Shift
The 2023 IPL season was a dramatic one for the CSK, culminating in a thrilling victory. Ravindra Jadeja, the left-handed batsman, etched his name in IPL history by smashing a six and a boundary off the final two deliveries, securing a ten-run victory for CSK. This win brought them their fifth IPL title, tying them with the Mumbai Indians for the most championship wins. Interestingly, the 2022 season saw Dhoni hand over the captaincy to Jadeja. However, a string of initial losses and Jadeja's injury forced Dhoni to reclaim the captaincy mid-season. His leadership ultimately led CSK to the 2023 title.
Dhoni's Retirement Rumors Resurface
Dhoni's recent decision to step down as captain has sparked speculation that this might be his final season with CSK. Similar retirement rumors have circulated in past seasons, but Dhoni has always returned. Therefore, predicting his retirement after IPL 2024 remains a guessing game.
Fresh Faces Take the Helm in Other Franchises While CSK experiences a leadership change, other franchises are also seeing new captains at the helm in IPL 2024. Hardik Pandya takes over from Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians. In Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins replaces Aiden Markram as skipper. Gujarat Titans have named Shubman Gill as their captain for the season
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