MS Dhoni is back at the helm of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season after the team’s poor performance and a key injury setback. The five-time IPL champions have lost four out of their five matches and currently sit 9th on the points table. Friday's loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai prompted the leadership change.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was leading CSK this season, is out of action due to an elbow fracture sustained from a short ball by Jofra Archer on March 30. Although Gaikwad played two matches post-injury—against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings—his condition worsened, and subsequent scans revealed a fracture in the radial neck of his elbow. The CSK medical team could conduct a proper MRI only after the swelling subsided.
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“MS Dhoni, an uncapped player, will take over as captain for the remainder of the IPL,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming announced ahead of the match against KKR. He added that Dhoni had no hesitation in stepping up during tough times and praised Gaikwad’s efforts to play through injury.
"He had no hesitation in stepping up and helping guide us out of this if we can," Fleming said. "So that was never a doubt. We'll look at replacements. We've got some good players in the squad that have been with us a while, so we'll look from within first. But yeah, there is an opportunity to see how we can enhance the squad, probably moving forward into subsequent years."
Fleming also hinted at possible internal squad reshuffling to strengthen the team for future seasons. Despite the setback, fans have renewed hope that Dhoni’s leadership can revive CSK’s IPL 2024 campaign.
