In a massive blow to Chennai Super Kings, team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. However, the news comes as a shock to many, as CSK legend MS Dhoni will now lead the side for the remainder of the IPL season.
CSK Head Coach Give Update On Ruturaj Gaikwad
It is understood that Ruturaj Gaikwad sustained a hairline fracture of the elbow, which will keep him out of CSK’s upcoming matches. The update was confirmed by CSK head coach Stephen Fleming on April 10, ahead of the home match against the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders.
When Was the Last Time Dhoni Led CSK?
MS Dhoni has been the captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since the team started in 2008, except for the two years when the team was banned and a few matches in 2022 when Ravindra Jadeja took over as captain – but that didn’t go well. Dhoni last led CSK in the 2023 IPL final, where they won and lifted their fifth IPL trophy.
However, when the 2024 season started, Ruturaj Gaikwad was made the new captain. CSK ended that season in 5th place and missed the playoffs because of net run rate.
This season, CSK has had a rough start. They’re currently 9th on the points table with just one win; that too against Mumbai Indians, followed by four back-to-back losses. CSK still have 9 matches left, and from now on, MS Dhoni will be leading the team again.
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Ambati Rayudu has finally responded to the online criticism he received for praising MS Dhoni. Rayudu, who played a big role in CSK’s past success, made it clear that he will always be a fan of Dhoni, lovingly known as Thala.
Ambati Rayudu Defends His MS Dhoni Comments
Recently, during CSK’s match against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on 8 April, Rayudu made a comment while doing Hindi commentary. He compared Dhoni to a warrior with a sword, showing his respect and admiration. But some fans thought he went too far and started trolling him online.
On Thursday, April 10, Chennai Super Kings dealt a heavy blow as their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was ruled out of the tournament following an elbow fracture. Gaikwad was hit on his elbow vs. Rajasthan Royals and played CSK’s last match against Punjab Kings.
Meanwhile, CSK also put out an official announcement remarking that Gaikwad will miss the remainder of the tournament. Further, MS Dhoni will lead the Men in Yellow for the remainder of the tournament. CSK has dealt a heavy blow in the form of Gaikwad, and this article will look at three replacements CSK might look to replace Ruturaj with.
1. Prithvi Shaw
Gaikwad was batting at No. 3 for CSK, and the Men in Yellow would look for a top-order batter. Thus, Prithvi Shaw is one of the star players to replace Gaikwad. The five-time winners are looking for a player to score quick runs at the top, and the right-hand batter, who went unsold in the auction, has that potential.
Talking about Shaw, he was under the scanner for his fitness issues, but under Dhoni’s guidance, Shaw can excel, and it can also be the best way to revive his career. Further, let’s look at Shaw’s stats in T20 tournaments since IPL 2024.