Saikiran Uppuluri
Saikiran Uppuluri
Stephen Fleming: We Weren’t Ready For Dhoni To Leave Captaincy
In a strategic move that has surprised many, MS Dhoni has decided to pass on the captaincy of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the IPL 2024 season. The decision was revealed by CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, on the eve of the tournament opener in Chennai. Fleming mentioned that Dhoni made the decision with a view to the future and after a lot of consideration, believing that the timing was right for Gaikwad to take on the leadership role.
This is not the first time CSK has made a captaincy change on the eve of a season opener. In 2022, Ravindra Jadeja took over as captain from Dhoni, but the transition was not smooth, leading to Dhoni reclaiming the leadership mid-season and eventually guiding CSK to their fifth IPL title in 2023. Fleming acknowledged that the 2022 captaincy switch was a wake-up call for the franchise, prompting them to better prepare for future changes in leadership.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has been with CSK since 2019, has emerged as one of the team’s biggest success stories. Despite a rough start in IPL 2020, Gaikwad has evolved into a versatile opener, impressing the team management with his development. Gaikwad himself expressed excitement and a sense of responsibility about his new role, highlighting the experienced players in the team, such as Dhoni, Jadeja, and Ajinkya Rahane, who he can lean on for guidance.
Overall, the decision to hand over the captaincy to Gaikwad marks a new chapter for CSK, signaling a strategic shift towards building for the future. With Dhoni’s mentorship and the support of the experienced players in the team, Gaikwad will look to lead CSK to further success in the upcoming IPL season.
