Chennai Super Kings (CSK) announced on March 21 that legendary captain MS Dhoni has stepped down from leadership duties just a day before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season opener. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as CSK's new captain for the IPL 2024. Dhoni's unexpected move has sparked a flurry of questions about his future in the glitzy league.
CSK franchise through a media release confirmed the development.
"MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings' captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of TATA IPL 2024. Ruturaj has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2019 and has played 52 matches in IPL during this period. The team looks forward to the upcoming season," CSK stated in a media release.
With Dhoni hinting at retirement at the end of the season, the CSK management might be aiming for a seamless handover of leadership while he's still around as a player. This move positions Ruturaj Gaikwad, a rising star with experience in both ODIs and T20Is for India, to take the reins smoothly. Gaikwad, having been with CSK since 2020 and playing in 52 matches, already possesses a strong understanding of the team's dynamics.
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You have to respect Dhoni's decision: CSK CEO
Meanwhile, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan while reaction to Dhoni's big move said that he was aware of the development before the captains' photoshoot which took place on
"Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains' meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call," Viswanathan told PTI.
Meanwhile, a consensus was made on Gaikwad's appointment as CSK's new captain. The stylish opener has been a consistent performer for the franchise, particularly last season where he amassed an impressive 590 runs in 16 games with a blistering strike rate of 147.50. This follows his breakout year in 2021, where he scored 635 runs in 16 matches. The 27-year-old Maharashtra batsman also possesses leadership experience, having captained the Indian team to victory at the 2023 Asian Games. While Dhoni steps down as captain, his bond with CSK remains strong. He is likely to retain a significant role within the franchise, though not necessarily as a player. This move follows CSK's previous attempt at a leadership transition in 2022 with Ravindra Jadeja. However, that stint proved short-lived, with Jadeja handing the captaincy back to Dhoni after eight games.
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Viswanathan made it very clear by saying,'It didn't work out at that time, this is different".
Dhoni's CSK legacy
Dhoni, the iconic wicketkeeper-batsman, called time on his international career in August 2020 but has continued to enthrall fans in the IPL. However, the 42-year-old has battled knee issues in recent seasons. Last year, even while playing with a troublesome knee, Dhoni led CSK to their fifth IPL title. He later underwent surgery to address the problem. Dhoni boasts an impressive IPL record, having played a staggering 250 matches and scoring over 5000 runs with a healthy strike rate of 135.92.
With his knee issues seemingly resolved, thanks to a recent surgery, Dhoni is expected to return to a higher batting position this season.
Talking about his captaincy track record, besides winning record-equalling five IPL title, Dhoni holds the record for most matches captained in the league, leading CSK in a staggering 226 matches. His leadership resulted in 133 victories and 91 losses. Remarkably, Dhoni is the only captain to have crossed both the 200-match mark as captain and the 100-win milestone in the IPL.
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