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[Saba Sports News] Ahead of the IPL 2024 opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), CSK has made a significant change in leadership. Iconic captain MS Dhoni has relinquished his role, passing the captaincy to opener Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni hinted at a new role in the tournament through a Facebook post on March 04. CSK’s official Twitter handle confirmed the news, sharing an image of Gaikwad with the caption, “OFFICIAL STATEMENT: MS Dhoni hands over captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.”
Dhoni, one of IPL’s most successful captains, led CSK to five titles in 16 seasons. He briefly stepped down before the 2022 season, only to resume midway through due to poor team performances.
Gaikwad, part of CSK since 2019, has emerged as a rising star. In 52 matches, he has amassed 1797 runs with an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 135.52, including one century and 14 fifties. He was the Orange Cap holder in the 2021 season, scoring 635 runs with an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26, with one century and four fifties. Gaikwad faces the challenge of filling Dhoni’s shoes in the upcoming season.