IPL 2024:Mahendra Singh Dhoni has relinquished his role as the captain of Chennai Super Kings, with Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed as the new skipper ahead of the upcoming IPL season commencing on Friday. Dhoni, who steered CSK to five IPL titles, will remain part of the team as a player for the season. Barring any last-minute injury concerns, he is expected to continue keeping wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday
M S Dhoni Has Handed The CSK Captaincy To
The announcement will come as a shock to CSK fans, as the IPL franchise clinched five IPL titles under Dhoni's captaincy, earning him the title of 'Thalaiva' (Tamil for leader). "Presenting @ChennaiIPL's Captain - @Ruutu1331," the IPL posted on X platform shortly after releasing a picture of all captains posing with the IPL trophy.
Presenting @ChennaiIPL's Captain - @Ruutu1331 🙌🙌#TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/vt77cWXyBI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024
Dhoni's decision, at the age of 42, comes just a day before the high-stakes opening match of IPL 2024 between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
M S Dhoni's Legacy As CSK Captain
CSK had tried to transition leadership even in the 2022 edition, but it didn't succeed, as Ravindra Jadeja returned the captaincy to Dhoni after eight games.
Dhoni's leadership was defined by his calm demeanour under pressure, inventive game strategies, and a remarkable knack for bringing out the best in his players. His choice to step down is viewed as the conclusion of a chapter that has been central to the IPL's story, prompting fans to reminisce about the numerous moments of excellence that characterized his tenure
Thala Shows us the Rutu! 🦁💛#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/eKaUgq2Hwu
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024
MS Dhoni has played a pivotal role in guiding the franchise to victory in five IPL trophies and continues to be an essential part of the squad. Under Dhoni's leadership, Chennai has reached an impressive 11 IPL finals, establishing themselves as one of the most successful teams alongside the Mumbai Indians in the league
Following his decision to step down from captaincy in 2022, with Ravindra Jadeja assuming the role, Dhoni was convinced to reclaim leadership mid-season after the team's disappointing performance. Initially, Jadeja was seen as an ideal successor to Dhoni, possessing versatile skills, extensive experience at the highest level, and adeptness in handling pressure situations. However, circumstances did not unfold as expected.
In 2023, despite finishing ninth, CSK made a remarkable comeback, securing their fifth title in Ahmedabad after a closely contested match against the Gujarat Titans.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been revealed as the new captain of Chennai Super Kings just a day before the opening game of IPL 2024, in which the defending champions CSK will face the visiting Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. #WhistlePodu #Yellove
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024
The 27-year-old Gaikwad has been considered as a potential successor to Dhoni ever since he finished the 2021 IPL season - his second in the competition - with a chart-topping 635 runs. The Maharashtra batsman has since become one of CSK's most reliable performers, and his consistent run-scoring in the IPL has placed him on the fringes of India's primary white-ball squads. He has featured in 6 ODIs and 19 T20Is thus far.
With 1797 runs from 52 matches at an average of 39.06 and a strike rate of 135.52, Gaikwad currently stands as CSK's seventh-highest run-scorer. One of the initial challenges he faces as captain is deciding on his opening partner, especially with his regular partner Devon Conway sidelined until May due to a thumb injury.
Gaikwad himself has recently recovered from a finger injury and has only played one competitive game in 2024 - a Ranji Trophy match against Services, where he top-scored with 96 runs in Maharashtra's first innings.
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