On the eve of the IPL 2024 tournament opener in Chennai, Chennai Super Kings’ head coach Stephen Fleming revealed that it was MS Dhoni’s decision to hand over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Fleming mentioned that this transition was made with a lot of consideration and an eye towards the future following a successful season the previous year. He emphasized that the timing was right and that Gaikwad, along with other players, had been groomed for captaincy behind the scenes.
This move was reminiscent of a similar decision made in 2022 when Ravindra Jadeja took over as captain from Dhoni but later stepped down due to a lack of success. Dhoni then reclaimed the leadership and led CSK to their fifth IPL title in 2023. The captaincy switch in 2022 served as a wake-up call for the franchise, prompting them to better prepare for a new captain and future transitions.
Fleming also hinted at on-field mentorship from Dhoni and other senior players to assist Gaikwad in his new role. Gaikwad, who has experience leading Maharashtra and India in T20 matches, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and mentioned the support he receives from the experienced players in the team.
Gaikwad’s journey with CSK has been a success story, evolving from a middle-order batsman to a versatile opener. The team management is pleased with his growth and development. Fleming highlighted the importance of building self-sufficient players and trusting them with responsibility, not just relying on the captain to dictate the game.
Overall, the franchise is now more prepared for life after Dhoni, thanks to the lessons learned from past transitions. The focus is on nurturing young talent and creating a strong team dynamic. The future looks promising for CSK under Gaikwad’s leadership.
