In the first season of the IPL in 2008, MS Dhoni was named captain of the Chennai Super Kings. He had recently captained India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, and his great demand as a player was evident from his 9.5 crore fee. After he was acquired by the Chennai Super Kings, he captained the team till the 2023 IPL.
MS Dhoni was replaced as captain of CSK in the 2024 Indian Premier League by Ruturaj Gaikwad. With 635 runs scored, he was named the Orange Cap in 2021 and established himself as a key member of the team. Jadeja was CSK’s first pick, but his play suffered under the captaincy, forcing him to resign in the middle of the season. In IPL 2024, MS Dhoni supported Ruturaj Gaikwad as the team’s captain.
MS Dhoni vs Ruturaj Gaikwad Batting Comparison – Performance in their first season as captain.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Fours / Sixes | 50s / 100s | Average | Strike Rate |
| MS Dhoni (2008) | 16 | 414 | 65 | 38 / 15 | 3 / 0 | 41.40 | 133.54 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (2024) | 14 | 583 | 108* | 58 / 18 | 4 / 1 | 53 | 141.16 |
MS Dhoni vs Ruturaj Gaikwad Captaincy Comparison
| Player | Matches | Wins | Loss | No result | Win Percentage | Team Position |
| MS Dhoni | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 56.25 % | Runners-Up |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 50 % | 5th |
In his first season as captain, who was a greater leader for CSK?
After leading his team to the 2008 IPL Finals, MS Dhoni has had a greater influence in his first season as captain. Then, as captain of the Chennai Super Kings, he won five titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2024), the World Cup for India in 2011, and the Champions Trophy in 2013, making him one of the most successful captains in history.
However, Ruturaj Gaikwad was unable to produce the desired results as the Chennai Super Kings did not make it to the 2024 playoffs, even though he had a strong batting season in his maiden season as captain. Since CSK was the reigning champion going into the 2024 IPL, it was a huge letdown. Despite his strong IPL batting efforts, Ruturaj Gaikwad has also been unable to gain many opportunities in the Indian squad afterward.
India
