Chennai: A day before the start of IPL 2024, Mahendra Singh Dhoni handed over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni is expected to continue playing for the Yellow Brigade this season, though there was no clarity from the franchise.
“MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of TATA IPL 2024. Ruturaj Gaikwad 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 its website.
Earlier this month, Dhoni had triggered speculation about his future with a post on social media. “Can’t wait for the new season and the new ‘role’. Stay tuned,” Dhoni had written in Facebook on March 4.
The 42-year-old Dhoni, a CSK legend, is in the twilight of his playing career, having retired from international cricket in August 2020.
He had stepped down as CSK captain two years ago as well, picking Ravindra Jadeja as his successor. But following CSK’s unimpressive start in IPL 2022 under Jadeja, Dhoni was reappointed skipper after eight matches. Last year, Dhoni led CSK to a record-equalling fifth IPL title.
Dhoni captained CSK in 226 IPL matches, winning 133 and losing 82. But Dhoni felt it was time again for him to hand over responsibility to a younger cricketer.
Hence, CSK will have a new skipper this season, with Gaikwad going out for the toss when CSK face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening match of the 17th edition at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium on Friday evening.
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