Dhoni Steps Down as CSK Captain; Gaikwad Takes Charge

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In a surprising turn of events, MS Dhoni has decided to relinquish his captaincy at Chennai Super Kings, with Ruturaj Gaikwad stepping into the leadership role, the franchise announced on Thursday.

The news initially broke through the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as Gaikwad represented CSK at the pre-IPL captains' conclave in Chennai. Shortly after, the franchise officially confirmed the change.

"MS Dhoni has passed on the captaincy baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024," CSK stated. "Ruturaj has been a vital part of Chennai Super Kings since 2019, having played 52 matches in the IPL during this period. The team eagerly anticipates the upcoming season under his leadership."

While the suddenness of the decision may have caught many off guard, considering Dhoni's enigmatic approach to his career, it wasn't entirely unexpected. On March 4, Dhoni had teased a 'new role' in a social media post, hinting at changes to come.

The confirmation from CSK management comes just a day before the team's season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The defending champions will kickstart the new IPL season at Chepauk in Chennai.

Insiders reveal that the franchise management was informed of the change only on Thursday morning, shortly before the Captains Conclave. "It was a decision between MS and Flem (coach Stephen Fleming). We, as the franchise management, always defer to the team management on cricketing matters, and they informed us of the captaincy change this morning," stated Kasi Viswanathan, the CEO of CSK.

While it's evident that Gaikwad, aged 27, had been aware of the impending change for some time, Viswanathan suggests that even franchise owner N Srinivasan was only made aware of it recently.

"This seems to be a better-handled transition compared to the Jadeja episode," remarked sources close to the team management, referring to Ravindra Jadeja's short-lived captaincy stint in 2022. That episode had led to a PR crisis for CSK as Jadeja left the team mid-season. However, Jadeja's subsequent reintegration into the team culminated in a championship win for CSK last year.

As for Gaikwad's long-term prospects as captain, speculation abounds, with talks of potential targets for CSK in the mega auction next year. However, Viswanathan declined to comment on future plans, confirming only that Dhoni will play the entirety of this season.

With this unexpected change in leadership, CSK fans are eager to see how Gaikwad leads the team in the upcoming IPL season."