Mahendra Singh Dhoni has stepped down from his position as the captain of Chennai Super Kings, and Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as his successor ahead of the upcoming IPL season set to commence on Friday.MSD, who led CSK to five IPL titles, will continue to be part of the team as a player for the season, and he is expected to fulfill the wicketkeeping duties in the opening match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru unless there are any unforeseen injury concerns.
Although the decision to change captains just before the start of the season may come as a surprise, behind the scenes, the Super Kings have been grooming Gaikwad for this role. Back in 2022, before the new season in Maharashtra, Dhoni had temporarily handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja, a move that didn’t yield the desired results as Jadeja stepped down midway through the season, leading to Dhoni resuming his leadership role.
In anticipation of the 2023 IPL season, CSK considered Ben Stokes as a captaincy option, but due to his fitness issues, they turned to Gaikwad instead. Despite not being a regular member of the Indian national team, the 27-year-old opener is highly respected within the franchise.
Gaikwad joined the CSK system in 2019 and made his debut in 2020, impressing with three consecutive Man of the Match awards. He further showcased his talent during Chennai’s fourth title victory in 2021, where he held the Orange Cap, solidifying his place in the team.
During the 2022/23 domestic season, Gaikwad spent significant time with MSD during the Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, marking the initial steps towards the leadership transition. This transition occurred in Ranchi, away from media attention, reflecting Dhoni’s characteristic style of passing on the baton.
Since then, Gaikwad has actively participated in captaincy programs led by Stephen Fleming in the team hotel. According to CSK’s batting coach Mike Hussey, Gaikwad possesses the qualities required to lead the team, such as a calm demeanor and astute game reading ability, reminiscent of Dhoni’s leadership style.
Gaikwad’s leadership during the Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign mirrored Dhoni’s approach, with teammates acknowledging his inclusive and strategic leadership. Having utilized his experience in the Maharashtra set-up to groom himself for the role, Gaikwad now steps into Dhoni’s shoes as the captain of CSK.https://themobilenewsnetwork.com/x-men-97-premiere-on-disney-plus/
Presenting @ChennaiIPL's Captain – @Ruutu1331 🙌🙌#TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/vt77cWXyBI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024
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