In a historic shift in the IPL, CSK will have a new captain in Ruturaj Gaikwad for IPL 2024 after MS Dhoni decided to hand over the team’s captaincy to the young opener.
MS Dhoni, 42, is likely going to play his last IPL season this year. It has been learned that Thala had already told Ruturaj Gaikwad last year that he is next in line for the CSK captaincy post. A day before the start of IPL 2024, CSK announced this decision.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has led India to Asian Games title in China, and is the skipper of Maharashtra in domestic cricket.
While everyone is sad to see Dhoni step down as CSK’s captain, they are happy for Gaikwad, who begins a new chapter in his career. The 27-year-old opener has been getting showered with wishes from fans and cricketers.
Suryakumar Yadav, the India and Mumba Indians star, took to Instagram to post a message for Gaikwad.
SKY admitted that Gaikwad has huge shoes to fill to MS Dhoni as CSK captain, but is confident that Gaikwad will be able to do the duties well with his calm and cool nature like Dhoni’s.
Check out Suryakumar Yadav’s post for Ruturaj Gaikwad:
Speaking on Thursday with the IPLt20.com, Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed the chat he had with MS Dhoni last year.
“Last year itself, Mahi bhai had hinted about captaincy at some point of time,” Gaikwad told IPLT20.com. “He just hinted that, ‘be ready, it shouldn’t be a surprise to you’. When we came into the camp, he involved me in some of the match simulation.”
“I remember him posting about a new role on social media and everybody was pointing towards me and asking me, ‘are you the next captain?’. I was like, ‘maybe it meant something else for social media’. But back of the mind, it was there. He came and said, ‘I’ve decided this and this’, but definitely now that I’m here, I’m looking forward to this.”
CSK kick start their title defence against RCB in Chennai.
