MS Dhoni is stepping back in as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings. He’ll lead the team for the rest of the IPL 2025 after regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad got sidelined with an elbow fracture. CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, broke the news to the press, saying, Ruturaj is out with a fracture on his elbow. MS Dhoni will take over as captain.
Gaikwad got injured when he was hit by a short ball from Jofra Archer. Dhoni, who has already led CSK to five IPL titles, will be back in charge starting Friday when they take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at home. The official statement from CSK confirmed Gaikwad’s injury as a hairline fracture and that Dhoni will lead the team.
The Super Kings have had a rough start to the season, losing four out of five matches and sitting at ninth place in the 10-team league. Dhoni has a big job ahead to turn things around.
At 43, Dhoni had previously passed the captaincy to Gaikwad at the start of the 2024 season. He noted that while he would chat with Gaikwad, he didn’t want to push him to take his advice. Ruturaj has been with us for a while now. He’s calm and composed, which is why we picked him to lead, Dhoni said.
He added, Before the season started, I told him, ‘If I give advice, it’s up to you whether to take it or not. I’ll try to stay out of it.’ Some people thought I was making the calls from behind the scenes, but really, he was handling 99 percent of decisions. The crucial ones—like who bowls when and field settings—were all up to him. He did a great job managing the team.
Dhoni also shared his thoughts on how T20 cricket has changed. Batsmen are now willing to take risks, and they feel they can hit big shots while still playing proper cricket shots. They’re improving their shot selection, whether it’s a reverse scoop against fast bowlers or a sweep shot, he explained.
He admitted he has to adjust too: I have to adapt, especially for where I’m batting. Staying relevant is key. According to Dhoni, the way T20 was played in 2008 is different from last year, noting that pitches have improved and are more suited for batting now compared to before.