Ruturaj Gaikwad Takes Helm: Chennai Super Kings Announce New Captaincy

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary captain who led Chennai Super Kings to victory in 5 IPL seasons, stepped down from his captaincy role ahead of the IPL. Dhoni, who has been at the helm since 2008, has been synonymous with the Chennai franchise. Although he briefly played for Rising Pune Supergiants during Chennai’s two-year ban, he remained loyal to the team. Opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the new captain of Chennai Super Kings, a decision confirmed by the official IPL social media handle.

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In the 2023 season, Chennai Super Kings clinched their record 5th IPL title by defeating the Gujarat Titans in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ruturaj Gaikwad, currently serving as an opener for Chennai, has earned the trust of the management with his consistent performances. While Ravindra Jadeja has experience, he hasn’t shown strong leadership for Chennai in the past. Some online users speculate that this IPL season might be Dhoni’s last, as he stepped down as captain.

RUTURAJ GAIKWAD APPOINTED AS THE CAPTAIN OF CSK….!!!!! pic.twitter.com/tic8WPn2iG

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2024

Back in 2008, Chennai Super Kings acquired MS Dhoni for Rs. 6 crores, marking his debut in the IPL. While they made it to the final in their first attempt, they fell short against the Rajasthan Royals. However, under Dhoni’s leadership, Chennai went on to win the IPL title in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. Dhoni has played 250 IPL matches, amassing 5,082 runs with an average of 38.79 and scoring 24 half-centuries along the way.