Image: MS Dhoni Steps Down as Chennai Super Kings Captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad Named New CSK Skipper
Ruturaj Gaikwad was officially announced by the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday, March 21, as the new captain of the five-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Gaikwad, who joined the team in 2019, has been a crucial member of the CSK team since the Indian Premier League 2021, when he won the Orange Cap with 635 runs scored in a season that the Men in Yellow ultimately won.
In three Twenty20 Internationals during the Asian Games, where the Men in Blue won gold, Gaikwad captained Team India. He also represented his state team, Maharashtra, in white-ball cricket matches played domestically.
CSK has been attempting to put the succession plan in motion since 2022 when MS Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja. However, Dhoni got back captaincy when the team failed to get the desirable results.
Dhoni led CSK in the rest of the 15th edition of the IPL and then in 2023 as well where he led the side to their fifth title. However, with the 2024 edition being expected to be his final season, the captaincy switch is not as surprising.
"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," CSK said in a statement on their website. "The team looks forward to the upcoming season," the statement added.
Presenting @ChennaiIPL's Captain - @Ruutu1331 ??#TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/vt77cWXyBI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024
Dhoni and Co. outclassed Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final-over thriller to equal Mumbai Indians (MI) feat of five IPL titles last year. Dhoni, who captained CSK in the IPL 2023 season with a heavily strapped left knee, had asserted that the 2024 campaign would be a 'gift' to his fans.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 226 |
| Wins | 133 |
| Defeats | 91 |
| W/L Ratio | 1.461 |
The beating heart of the Super Kings, Dhoni has won 128 games and lost 82 as leader of the CSK franchise. Dhoni captained CSK in 212 IPL matches. The former India skipper bid farewell to international cricket in on August 15, 2020.
Also Read: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Strengths and weakness
Give Your Feedback