Just a day before the start of the cricketing carnival in India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has passed the captaincy baton to a young leader in the form of Ruturaj Gaikwad. In a very surprising turn of events, M.S. Dhoni has stepped down as the CSK Captain. The former India and CSK skipper is speculated to retire at the end of this season by the fans.
Gaikwad took part in the pre-season captains photoshoot and also met the other captains of the tournament. This will be the first time that he will be leading the IPL franchise which previously has lifted the title on five occasions. Fans are calling it the end of an era. The most successful captain in the IPL history with 133 wins under his belt is set to play this season just as a wicket-keeper batter for the men in yellow. Dhoni, the last time he played in yellow, had asserted the 2024 IPL season as a ‘gift’ to his fans and loyalists.
Replacing Dhoni as the new captain, Gaikwad will be leading the Chennai based side up against the Faf Du Plessis led Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk tomorrow. Gaikwad, who made his debut at CSK back in IPL 2020 has now played 52 games for the team and at IPL as well.
The Chennai Super Kings have lifted the IPL trophy for 5 times under the leadership of M.S. Dhoni in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and most recently in 2023. A lot weighs on Gaikwad’s shoulders as the fans are expecting him to carry forward Dhoni’s legacy and take CSK towards its sixth IPL title this season.
The Sportz Planet desk,
Atharva Shetye.
