In a shocking turn of events, MS Dhoni stepped down as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2024.
In a surprise announcement, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) confirmed that MS Dhoni has stepped down as captain of the team, passing the torch to young batter Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 IPL season.
“MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of 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 said in a statement on their social media post.
Gaikwad, a rising star in Indian cricket, will be leading an IPL team for the first time. He even participated in the pre-season captain’s photoshoot alongside other IPL skippers.
Dhoni’s decision, though, comes amidst ongoing speculation about his future as a player. While the 42-year-old underwent successful knee surgery last year and has begun training in Chennai, questions linger about his participation in the upcoming IPL season.
Despite playing through a knee injury throughout IPL 2023, Dhoni led CSK to a thrilling victory in the finals, securing their fifth IPL title and tying them with the Mumbai Indians for the most championship wins in league history.
However, this is not Dhoni’s first time handing over the CSK captaincy. In 2022, Ravindra Jadeja assumed the leadership role, only to hand it over mid-season due to a string of losses. Dhoni then stepped back in to lead the team.
Previously, Dhoni had hinted at a desire to end his IPL career on a high note, but the specifics of his plans remained undisclosed.
Although Dhoni will not steer the Chennai Super Kings anymore, the team is looking forward to a successful season under its new captain, Ruturaj. CSK will play their season opener against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 22nd.
Last Updated on March 21, 2024
