Chennai Super Kings immensely benefitted from MS Dhoni’s services and work rate ever since the inception of the cash-rich Indian Premier League. Under MS Dhoni’s tutelage, CSK became one of the formidable forces in the competition. The yellow army reached the finals a record ten times, more than any other team.
Besides that, they are one of the most successful teams in terms of piling up a number of wins. CSK have won a total of 131 games out of 225 with a win percentage of 58.22 whereas their arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians won 138 out of the 247 games with a win percentage of 55.87. CSK and MI dominated the league ever so well.
Both teams have won five honours apiece and deservedly decorated their trophy cabinet. In the previous edition of the IPL, CSK defeated Gujarat Titans to win their fifth IPL title. MS Dhoni who indeed reached the final stages of his IPL career made up his mind in returning to lead the Chennai Super Kings in 2024.
Ambati Rayudu names future CSK captain
CSK team management might have a big headache in plumping for the future captain. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni might surely groom the right player as the future captain. Ravindra Jadeja who led the team in IPL 2022 season failed to bring the best out of himself as a captain. The all-rounder lacked the combination of leadership, tactical acumen, decision-making under pressure along with some cricketing expertise.
Not long ago, former CSK player, Suresh Raina predicted that MS Dhoni might groom Ben Stokes as a future CSK captain. Meanwhile, Ambati Rayudu thinks otherwise as he feels that Ruturaj Gaikwad has the leadership qualities to steer the CSK franchise in the right direction. According to Rayudu, MS Dhoni might groom the star opener as the future CSK captain such that the Pune-born cricketer might go on to lead the team for close to a decade.
“Coming to the future, I think Ruturaj has a great chance. He has those leadership qualities in him. So if Mahi bhai grooms him say a year or so, then he can lead the team for 7-8 or even 10 years. He is in good hands with Mahi bhai and Fleming. He is calm, down-to-earth and extremely talented,” said former CSK star Ambati Rayudu, in an interview with BehindWoods TV.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad won the Orange Cap for amassing 635 runs in 16 matches in CSK’s title-winning IPL 2021 season. The right-handed batter continued his rich vein of form in the IPL 2023 season, wherein he aggregated 590 runs including one century and 14 fifties.