In the latest breaking news ahead of the start of IPL 2024, MS Dhoni has “handed over” the CSK captaincy to young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
CSK announced his news on Thursday afternoon ahead of the captain’s photoshoot, which was attended by Ruturaj Gaikwad and not MS Dhoni. The announcement of his news came just a day before the start of the IPL 2024.
That MS Dhoni has relinquished his captaincy despite leading CSK to the title last year means that the 42-year-old is very likely to hang his boost at the end of this season.
CSK said in a statement: “MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of TATA 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.”
Earlier in IPL 2022, MS Dhoni had stepped down as the captain and given the duty to Ravindra Jadeja. However, after CSK won only two out of eight matches under Jadeja, Dhoni took back the captaincy role and then led the franchise to its fifth title in IPL 2023.
CSK will kick start their title defence under Ruturaj Gaikwad on Friday at their home ground, Chepauk, in Chennai, against Faf du Plessis’ RCB.
This, finally, brings an end to MS Dhoni’s long captaincy tenure at CSK and in the IPL – he also led Rising Pune Supergiant for one season in 2016. Dhoni has captained in 226 IPL matches from 2008 to 2023, out of which his teams won 133 games and lost 91.
Fans paid tributes to MS Dhoni as he stepped down from IPL captaincy and congratulated Gaikwad. Some fans felt Dhoni should have continued for another season as CSK’s captain while some opined it was the perfect time for Dhoni to groom Gaikwad in the role while he plays his potentially last IPL season.
Fans’ reaction on MS Dhoni handing CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad:
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