Legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni has handed over the captaincy of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to opener Ruturaj Gaikwad on the eve of the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener, setting off speculation about his future with the franchise.
The announcement was made by the Indian Premier League via a post on X, just a day before CSK faces Royal Challengers Bangalore. CSK, a five-time champion, issued a brief statement confirming the transition.
"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. The team looks forward to the upcoming season," stated CSK.
Speculation is rife that Dhoni may retire at the end of the season, prompting the franchise to ensure a smooth transition with Dhoni's continued presence as a player.
Gaikwad, who has represented India in six ODIs and 19 T20s, debuted for CSK in 2020 and has since played 52 matches for the team.
CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan expressed respect for Dhoni's decision, stating, "Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains' meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call."
Gaikwad had an outstanding performance last year, scoring 590 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 147.50. He made a mark in 2021 with 635 runs in 16 games.
The 27-year-old from Maharashtra has prior experience in captaincy, having led the Indian team to a gold medal in the Asian Games last year.
While Dhoni is expected to maintain a significant role in the franchise, CSK's attempt at leadership transition in the 2022 edition with Ravindra Jadeja did not pan out, leading to Dhoni reassuming captaincy duties.
Dhoni retired from international cricket in August 2020 but continues to play in the IPL.
Despite knee issues, he has played 250 IPL matches, scoring over 5000 runs at a strike rate of 135.92.
Former India pacer Irfan Pathan, after meeting Dhoni recently, remarked on the latter's fitness post-surgery, sparking anticipation among fans for Dhoni's performance in the upcoming IPL season.
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