The future of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) post-MS Dhoni’s retirement as captain remains one of the biggest questions in the Indian Premier League (IPL). MS Dhoni has been the face of CSK since the inception of the IPL in 2008 and is the most successful captain in the tournament’s history.
Under Dhoni’s leadership, CSK won four IPL championships and had the highest match-winning percentage of any IPL team (58.98%). They have made the most playoff appearances (eleven) and IPL Final appearances (nine), respectively.
The franchise itself has previously said that MS Dhoni would lead the team in the upcoming season. It was also reported that this will be MSD’s final IPL season and that he plans to leave the league in front of the Chennai crowd. This makes it difficult for management to choose the MSD’s replacement for the upcoming seasons.
In 196 games as the captain of CSK, MSD has guided his team to 118 victories, 77 losses, and one game with no outcome. With that in mind, here are some of the potential candidates to replace Dhoni as CSK captain after IPL 2023.
Ravindra Jadeja
The franchise might recosider about selecting Jadeja as MS Dhoni’s replacement. He led CSK as captain throughout the previous season in eight contests. But his time as captain was a complete disaster. Under his direction, CSK lost six games and won two. But that doesn’t preclude him from being a captain.
He can definitely lead the CSK after MSD because he has been with the team for such a long time and knows how things might change. Additionally, as an all-rounder, he can influence the game with both his bowling and hitting. Therefore, it won’t come as a surprise if CSK selects him as their captain once more.
Ben Stokes
By signing star all-rounder Ben Stokes at IPL 2023 Mini Auction in Kochi, CSK completely resolved their problems. Stokes is very good at reading the game and making the right decisions, and his natural leadership skills are also evident. He has the ability to motivate the players and bring out the best in them.
Given his impressive track record, many believe that Stokes could one day become the captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. He has the potential to lead the team to success and is also a very good role model for the younger players.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
The young batsman, Ruturaj Gaikwad led CSK in run production during the most recent IPL, collecting 368 runs at an average of 26 during a campaign in which the four-time champions missed the playoffs.
Gaikwad was crucial to CSK’s success in 2021, which saw them win the title for a record-breaking fourth time. Despite being only 25 years old, Gaikwad has a lot on his plate. He also serves as the team captain for Maharashtra in domestic cricket, and CSK may look to develop him into a team leader.
Also Read: IPL 2023: 3 Reasons Why Harry Brook Sold For Such Big Amount
