On Thursday, March 21, the IPL officially named Ruturaj Gaikwad as the new captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a team that has won the IPL title five times. Gaikwad has been with CSK since 2019 and became a key player in IPL 2021 when he scored the most runs in a season, helping CSK win the championship. He has also led Team India in three T20Is during the Asian Games and captained his state team, Maharashtra, in domestic cricket.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Made A Big Statement After Becoming CSK’s New Captain
The Super Kings confirmed the development immediately after IPL’s confirmation. The official statement read: “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,”
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. #WhistlePodu #Yellove
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024
Meanwhile, after being appointed as the team’s captain, Ruturaj described it as a “privilege” and acknowledged it as a “huge responsibility.” He has everything he needs. As he said, “I have Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) in the team, Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja), and Ajju bhai (Ajinkya Rahane) as well, to guide me. Nothing to worry, just looking forward to enjoy.“
Watch the video:
“Feels Good! It’s a privilege!” – Captain Rutu 🗣️🦁 #WhistlePodu #Yellove 🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/HPyWuEajIg
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024
During MS Dhoni’s tenure, CSK secured five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles, establishing themselves as the most consistent team in the tournament’s history across 14 seasons. Dhoni’s captaincy spanned 226 IPL matches, the most by any captain, with CSK winning 133 of them.
Despite Dhoni stepping down, CSK possesses a strong squad, and with Dhoni’s guidance from behind the stumps, they aim for another successful season under Gaikwad’s leadership, potentially for years to come.
