IPL 2024: Dhoni steps down as CSK captain; Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead vs RCB

On the eve of the IPL 2024 opener, Chennai Super Kings have changed their captain. Ruturaj Gaikwad will take the reins from MS Dhoni as CSK captain

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named as the new captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the team's opener in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk. 

Gaikwad is over taking MS Dhoni, who is yet to retire from IPL, and is still available for playing.

Gaikwad won Asian Games 2023 Gold medal for India as a captain in Hangzhou.

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The #TATAIPL is here and WE are ready to ROCK & ROLL 

Presenting the 9 captains with PBKS being represented by vice-captain Jitesh Sharma. pic.twitter.com/v3fyo95cWI

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024

Gaikwad is overtaking MS Dhoni, who is yet to retire from IPL and is still available to play. The announcement was made on Thursday, March 21 in a social media post by the IPL official handle.

 

The last time MS Dhoni stepped out of the captaincy shoes of the CSK was in 2022 when Ravindra Jadeja was given the reigns of the yellow brigade. However, by mid-season MSD stepped back into his shoes as he led the team in the remaining matches of the league and then once again led the team to their fifth title in IPL 2023. 

42-year-old Dhoni played most number of matches as the captain in Indian Premier League. He led CSK and now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in 226 matches with win percentage of 58.84 per cent.

Most matches as captain
Player	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	NR	W/L	%W	%L	% Tied	% Draw	%NR	%
MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS)	2008-2023	226	133	91	0	0	2	1.46	58.84	40.26	0	0	0.88	59.37
RG Sharma (MI)	2013-2023	158	87	67	4	0	0	1.29	55.06	42.4	2.53	0	0	56.32
V Kohli (RCB)	2011-2023	143	66	70	3	0	4	0.94	46.15	48.95	2.09	0	2.79	48.56
G Gambhir (DC/KKR)	2009-2018	129	71	57	1	0	0	1.24	55.03	44.18	0.77	0	0	55.42
DA Warner (DC/SRH)	2013-2023	83	40	41	2	0	0	0.97	48.19	49.39	2.4	0	0	49.39
AC Gilchrist (DC/KXIP)	2008-2013	74	35	39	0	0	0	0.89	47.29	52.7	0	0	0	47.29
SS Iyer (DC/KKR)	2018-2022	55	27	26	2	0	0	1.03	49.09	47.27	3.63	0	0	50.9
SK Warne (RR)	2008-2011	55	30	24	1	0	0	1.25	54.54	43.63	1.81	0	0	55.45
V Sehwag (DC/KXIP)	2008-2015	53	28	24	1	0	0	1.16	52.83	45.28	1.88	0	0	53.77
KL Rahul (KXIP/LSG/PBKS)	2020-2023	51	25	24	2	0	0	1.04	49.01	47.05	3.92	0	0	50.98

What will be the role of MS Dhoni in CSK?

Dhoni, before joining the CSK training camp at Chepauk had announced that he would be seen in a new role. Very few people would have expected him to shun the captaincy altogether in the new role. He might play as an impact player with CSK or might even be the mentor to Ruturaj to hand-hold him in his new role. 

Has Ruturaj captained before?

Gaikwad was named the captain of the Indian side that represented the country in the Asian Games 2023 in China and won the Gold medal as well. Gaikwad was named the vice-captain of the Indian T20 side which Suryakumar Yadav captained in a five-match series against Australia and three-match series against South Africa. 

The 27-year-old has already led his state unit Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Domestic T20) and Vijay Hazare trophy with mild to moderate success.

Gaikwad IPL stats

Ruturaj Gaikwad Batting & Fielding Stats
YEAR	MAT	NO	RUNS	HS	AVG	BF	SR	100	50	4S	6S	CT	ST
Career	52	5	1797	101*	39.07	1326	135.52	1	14	159	73	31	0
2023	16	1	590	92	42.14	400	147.5	0	4	46	30	17	0
2022	14	0	368	99	26.29	291	126.46	0	3	33	14	4	0
2021	16	2	635	101*	45.35	466	136.26	1	4	64	23	6	0
2020	6	2	204	72	51	169	120.71	0	3	16	6	4	0

As we gear up for the season opener, here's everything that goes behind the labour of Yellove! #WhistlePodu #AllThingsYellove

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 21, 2024