MS Dhoni’s trust meant a lot to me: CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad

The famous captain, MS Dhoni, entrusted Ruturaj Gaikwad command of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prior to the 2024 tournament, marking a significant shift in leadership. The conversations began shortly after the team’s 2023 IPL winning season, which took the young opener by surprise.

The Maharashtra batsman’s career didn’t get off to a great start as captain, and his individual form also declined. After losing a game that was crucial to their chances of making the playoffs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), CSK suffered a rare miss. The Super Kings haven’t been compelled to consider other choices, though, and they still believe Ruturaj will be the team’s captain in the 2025 Indian Premier League.

“You are leading this year, not me,” MS Dhoni told me a week prior to the tournament last year. Astonished, I questioned, “From the first game? Don’t you think so? It was daunting, especially with only a few days to prepare. “But this is your team,” he told me. You make your own choices. Except in cases where field placements are a 50/50 call, I won’t meddle. Even in that case, you are under no obligation to heed my counsel. That trust was really important to me,” Gaikwad said on JioHotstar.

Shane Watson, a great all-rounder, was unexpectedly selected by Chennai because of his dismal performance with Bengaluru in the previous tournament. Nonetheless, Watto’s contributions across all departments in the Chennai camp and Dhoni’s call to bring him in paid off for CSK, making it one of the greatest comebacks in IPL history.

Gaikwad is now the pack leader, which Watson linked to a comparable circumstance given MS Dhoni level of trust in him.

Considering his extraordinary leadership abilities, I was a little taken aback when Dhoni gave Ruturaj the captaincy. He does, however, recognise the value of a smooth transition, and it is preferable for it to take place while he is still present to lead the group. The astonishing thing is that MS Dhoni continues to produce brilliant moments at the age of 42. Even if he plays a smaller role now, Watson admitted that his influence on the squad and, more importantly, the supporters, is still invaluable.

Commentator and former cricket player Aakash Chopra also offered his thoughts on the Ranchi-born player no longer serving as the team’s captain. On Dhoni’s batting position from the previous season, where he primarily batted at No. 8 or below, Chopra also shared his thoughts.

People begin to wonder, “Dhoni is batting low, Dhoni is no longer captain” when your season doesn’t go well. Was he merely filling a spot? It’s not how I personally perceive it. I believe that holding the hand of the next monarch in line is a key component of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s and the Chennai Super Kings’ plan.

CSK will play the Mumbai Indians in the opening match of their IPL 2025 season on Sunday, March 23. El Clásico matches will be the tournament’s first for both rivals, and Dhoni is rumoured to be playing in the competition for the final time before retiring.