In a major setback for Mahi fans, MS Dhoni has stepped down from the captaincy of the popular Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise just before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
In its statement, CSK confirmed the news on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
“OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad,”tweeted CSK.
42-year-old Dhoni has won five IPL titles as the captain of CSK. CSK triumphed over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to emerge champions. After winning the trophy, Dhoni confirmed that he would return for the IPL 2024, effectively ending doubts about his retirement from the mega event.
Dhoni confirmed his international retirement on August 15, 2020. He guided India to the 2007 World Twenty20 title, the 2011 World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
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Right-handed batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad has been with CSK since the 2019 IPL auction. He has shown remarkable form and consistency with the franchise. His technical prowess and composed batting style have solidified his position as one of the team’s key opening batsman. Gaikwad’s contributions were instrumental in the last edition of IPL in CSK’s performance. He garnered a total of 590 runs in 16 appearances, showcasing his potential to lead the team into the future. Gaikwad was the Orange Cap winner in 2021 with 635 runs in 16 matches, when CSK won its fourth title. He has also learnt valuable leadership lessons under Dhoni’s captaincy.