MS Dhoni has passed on the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings to Ruturaj Gaikwad prior to the commencement of the TATA IPL 2024. Ruturaj has been a crucial member of the Chennai Super Kings since 2019, having participated in 52 matches in the IPL during this time. The team eagerly anticipates the forthcoming season.
Ruturaj Gaikwad:Future of CSK Captaincy
Ruturaj Gaikwad will take charge as the captain of the team in IPL 2024. Gaikwad has been associated with the franchise since 2019, participating in 52 matches. The Maharashtra batter clinched the Orange Cap in 2021, coinciding with CSK's fourth title win. Gaikwad boasts 1797 runs from 52 matches, maintaining an impressive average of 39.06 and a strike rate of 135.52.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. #WhistlePodu #Yellove
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024
Ruturaj Gaikwad, a right-handed batsman, has been part of CSK since the 2019 IPL auction, demonstrating remarkable form and consistency. His technical prowess and composed batting style have established him as one of the team's key opening batters. In the IPL 2023 season, Gaikwad played a pivotal role, accumulating 590 runs in 16 appearances, highlighting his capability to lead the team forward.
The decision to appoint Gaikwad as captain has received the endorsement of former India cricketer Suresh Raina, who shares a close bond with Dhoni. Raina considers Gaikwad to be an ideal choice to lead CSK after Dhoni's era. He emphasized the significance of the IPL 2024 season for CSK, seeing it as a critical phase for the team to strategize for the future under new leadership.
IPL 2024: End Of An Era
Before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Mahendra Singh Dhoni resigned from his role as the captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday. CSK's official handle on X announced that Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named as the new captain of the IPL team
This leadership transition comes with its challenges, as CSK has faced difficulties with captaincy changes before, notably in the 2022 IPL season when Ravindra Jadeja stepped down after just eight games, prompting Dhoni to resume the role. Nonetheless, with Dhoni's guidance, both on and off the field, Gaikwad is positioned to lead CSK into a new era, carrying forward the legacy of one of cricket's greatest leaders.
Dhoni has participated in 250 IPL matches, accumulating 5,082 runs with an average of 38.79 and crafting 24 half-centuries. As CSK gears up to defend their title in IPL 2024, commencing with a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22 at Chepauk, all attention will be focused on Gaikwad as he assumes the captaincy, aiming to guide the team to sustained success in the fiercely competitive realm of the IPL.
Dhoni guided CSK to a record-equalling fifth IPL title on the third day of a T20 final against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad last year. It marked CSK's seventh title in all T20 tournaments, putting them on par with Mumbai and Titans (South Africa), and trailing only the Sialkot Stallions (8).
.Thank you Captain MS Dhoni 💛 #IPL2024 #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/dAXkemwPCo
— Chennai Super Kings Fans (@CskIPLTeam) March 21, 2024
In returning the favor to his longtime coach, the 42-year-old showcased his still-flickering big-hitting abilities with some clean slogs down the ground and on the leg-side during a nearly hour-long open net session.
IPL 2024:Future CSK
“It feels good. It's a privilege obviously. I feel more than that. It's a huge responsibility but I'm really excited because of the kind of group we have. Everyone's experienced enough, so not much to do for me. Plus, I have Mahi (Dhoni) bhai in the team, Jaddu (Jadeja) bhai as well, Ajju (Rahane) bhai as well, who's been a great captain, to guide me. Nothing much to worry, just looking forward to enjoy it,” said Gaikwad.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the new captain of the side, and as per CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan, Dhoni would be there always to guide the new leader. Dhoni, who is already 42, has led the side since the inception of the cash-rich league in 2008. It is now going to be interesting to see what Dhoni’s plans are – will he be a part of CSK as a player in 2025 or as a part of the backroom staff.
Dhoni will provide guidance to Gaikwad both on and off the field. The coach commended the 27-year-old cricketer as a 'self-assured' player and granted him some flexibility in case of setbacks
Thala MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. #WhistlePodu #Yellove #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/ZbuKGi01UG
— Chennai Super Kings Fans (@CskIPLTeam) March 21, 2024
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