MS Dhoni’s bombshell announcement to relinquish his Chennai Tremendous Kings captaincy on the eve of the IPL 2024 opener in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru has paved the best way for questions on his full-time taking part in function this season.
Dhoni handed over the reins of a franchise he has led for 14 seasons to win a record-equalling 5 titles to younger batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. On Friday, Gaikwad led CSK to a six-wicket win in opposition to RCB on the MA Chidambaram Stadium on his captaincy debut with Dhoni taking part in an energetic function because the wicketkeeper.
The 42-year-old was later not required to bat because the CSK top-order ensured a medical victory. With Dhoni taking a backseat in his batting and management duties, specialists reckon that the previous India captain could not characteristic in all matches, successfully grooming different gamers to tackle the mantle of wicketkeeping and batting as a finisher.
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Gayle on Dhoni’s availability
“He (MS Dhoni) won’t play all video games. There could also be slightly break in between for him. that’s why the choice. However MSD will go effectively, don’t fear about that,” Gayle stated on Jio Cinema forward of the CSK-RCB conflict.
READ: Gavaskar impressed by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy
Since his worldwide retirement in 2020, Dhoni has solely competed within the IPL and led the Yellow Military to their fourth and fifth titles in 2021 and 2023 respectively. On Friday, Dhoni had additionally been the third oldest cricketer to play an IPL match behind Brad Hogg and Pravin Tambe.
Chennai recorded their eighth win in 9 matches in opposition to RCB in Chennai on the again of a superlative bowling effort led by franchise debutant Mustafizur Rahman. Rahman skittled the opposition top-order with figures of 4/29 as RCB posted 173 in 20 overs. In reply, cameos from Shivam Dube, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja propelled CSK to a cushty win.
Dhoni was an energetic presence on the sector, choosing up two catches whereas additionally effecting a runout off the final ball of the RCB innings.