Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad recalled the message he recived from former CSK captain MS Dhoni just a week before the start of IPL 2024 season. Dhoni took the social media by storm when he handed over CSK captaincy reins to a young Gaikwad, who came in the CSK side as a upcoming player during the IPL 2018 season.
However, it took Gaikwad two years to make a permanent place in the CSK team. His breakthrough season came in 2021 when he helped CSK clinch their fourth IPL title. Since then, the 28-year-old has been a regular member of the side. While his captaincy tenure with CSK began on a rocky note, Gaikwad is tipped to lead the franchise for many years ahead.
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Speaking on ‘Power-Play’, streaming on the JioHotstar app, Ruturaj recalled the moment and said Dhoni came up to him and said he won't capatin the team in 2024 and the he would be replacing him as captain.
“Just a week before the tournament last year, MS Dhoni came up to me and said, ‘I’m not leading this year you are.’ I was taken aback, asking, ‘From the first game? Are you sure?’ With just a few days to prepare, it was overwhelming," said Ruturaj.
MS Dhoni reassured Gaikwad he won't interfere in captaincy
Gaikwad also revealed that Dhoni had told him to make his own decisions on the field. The CSK skipper further added that Dhoni would only help if he feels the feild placements are not upto the mark. However, the Maharashtra batter revealed that even when he gives feild suggestions there is no compulsion to listen to him.
"But he assured me, ‘This is your team. You make your own decisions. I won’t interfere except when field placements are a 50-50 call. Even then, it’s not a compulsion to follow my advice. That trust meant a lot to me,” said Ruturaj.
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CSK finished fifth on the points table in the IPL 2024 season and missed a playoff spot by a whisker. They will begin the IPL 2025 season by playing home matches against MI and RCB.
