MS Dhoni himself would have been the first man to acknowledge that his form and fitness wouldn’t keep him in the CSK’s eleven for the entire season. Although it came as a sudden announcement, it wasn’t a surprising one that Dhoni decided to step down as CSK’s captain.
MS Dhoni handed over to the man who has been key to their success over the year: Ravindra Jadeja. The all-rounder had joined CSK in 2012 and has been an integral part of their side since.

CSK said in their statement that it was Dhoni’s call of stepping down and passing the baton to Jadeja, but also that the former skipper will remain CSK’s part “this season and beyond”.
“MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK. Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond,” read a statement from CSK.
As fans slowly started to come to terms with the logic and reality behind this decision from the talismanic former CSK captain, it came to hit them once again when it was Jadeja who came out at the toss on Saturday and not Dhoni.
Dhoni was seen practising football before the start of the game; fans in the stands, and probably at home too, cheered it. They cheered for the man who had delivered 4 titles for CSK, and marched them 9 times into the final. But he wasn’t leading them anymore.

Not only for the die-hard Dhoni and CSK fans, in fact, for any cricket lover, but it was also an emotional moment, a sort of watershed instance, end of an era, change of times, as CSK was being led by someone not named MS Dhoni.
Netizens penned down some poignant tweets in respect for ‘Thala’:
I want Dhoni to win a Man of the Match this season. Only way to listen to him in post-match presentation now.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) March 26, 2022
From 7⃣ to 8⃣ and from ? to ?
Congratulations on a stellar captaincy stint to MS Dhoni and all the best to Jadeja ?#IPL2022 @imjadeja pic.twitter.com/NR5LrkYvXy
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 24, 2022
Hands down, the best Captain ever. Retweet if you agree!?? #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/9VrNDq33S2
— Whistle Podu Army ® – CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) March 24, 2022
The greatest – MS Dhoni. pic.twitter.com/B30Kk2Obm8
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2022
Suresh Raina said “MS Dhoni will be our captain forever”.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 26, 2022
MS Dhoni is playing his first IPL match for CSK just as a player and not as a captain.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 26, 2022
Dhoni going for toss and suddenly remembering that he is not the captain anymore pic.twitter.com/KLL6udIPZ2
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) March 26, 2022
Doesn’t matter which team wins today,I am here to watch MS Dhoni on field after 161 days. pic.twitter.com/aHUww2Hbpm
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) March 26, 2022
IPL cameraman whenever he sees MS Dhoni tonight ? #CSKvKKR #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/LmF49Yr5lA
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 26, 2022
It’s been a pleasure, MS Dhoni (C). ?? pic.twitter.com/lNP2eMHdqf
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 24, 2022
Missing MS Dhoni as CSK captain ?#CSKvKKR #KKRvsCSK #KKRvCSK #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/jHPRwUFRNY
— CRICKET VIDEOS ? (@AbdullahNeaz) March 26, 2022
WE LOVE YOU MS DHONI
pic.twitter.com/4xDXSR9BCX
— :/ (@MSDhoniwarriors) March 26, 2022