Former Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni finally breaks a huge silence to reveal why he selected Ruturaj Gaikwad as his successor.
The 43-year-old’s sudden decision to hand over the captaincy to Ruturaj, just a few hours before the commencement of the IPL 2024 season opener dropped a huge bombshell among fans. This ignited heated discussions about MSD’s future in IPL and led to speculations about his retirement plans.
Even after Gaikwad became the skipper, fans still claimed him as a ‘paper captain’ and believed that it was Captain Cool who was the main decision-maker behind the stumps. However, Thala (MSD’s nickname) clarified that even if he is offering his advice to Ruturaj, it doesn’t mean that he needs to follow that.
The former legendary Indian captain’s conversation with JioHotstar became the talking point of the town after CSK’s 4-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians in their campaign opener of IPL 2025 on Sunday (March 23) at Chepauk Stadium.
Was Dhoni Impressed with Ruturaj’s Calm and Composed Leadership?
Dhoni praised Ruturaj’s calm and composed attitude in handling high-pressure matches, which is one of the key factors for leadership and decision-making skills. Here’s what the five-time winning ex-CSK captain said:
“YES! Having been a part of our team for quite some time, Ruturaj’s temperament has been very good. He remains calm and composed, whether it is on the field or off the field. So, these were the main reasons to consider him for the captaincy role,” Dhoni reveals the reason.
Perhaps, Dhoni might have observed his cool-headed demeanor in the 28-year-old’s leadership skills and wanted to appoint him as the next CSK captain, who could lead the team to glory even after his retirement.
‘He Makes 99 Percent Decisions’: MS Dhoni About Ruturaj’s Decision-Making Skills
Furthermore, Dhoni cleared the speculations on making the decisions background and credited Ruturaj’s ability to lead the players:
“See! I told him before the start of the tournament that even if I offer you advice, you don’t need to follow it. I will make sure to stay away as much as I can. During the previous edition, several people assumed that I was the one who was making the main decisions behind the stumps.
In reality, Gaikwad was the one making 99 percent decisions on the field. Let it be the most crucial calls such as the bowling changes and field placements. He shouldered a major part of the responsibility. I was just helping him out and offering suggestions. He did a fabulous job in leading the players,” MSD added a few more facts.
The Super Kings having won five IPL titles under MS Dhoni’s captaincy had a disappointing season in 2024. The yellow army led by Gaikwad narrowly missed a spot to qualify for the playoffs and concluded in the fifth position in the points table. Nevertheless, Dhoni’s faith in Ruturaj’s ability remained unbroken.
MS Dhoni About His Change in Batting Style
Dhoni revealed his transformation in batting style and explained the reasons for adopting a destructive approach by acknowledging the rapidly changing landscape of T20 cricket:
“Absolutely! The modern-era batters have shown their willingness to take risks, particularly in the shorter formats. They are aware of the shot that they need to maintain proper cricketing shots to execute big power-hitting strokes and at the same time improve their shot selection. Even if it is unconventional shots like a sweep, reverse sweep, or reverse scoop against a pacer, I am no different from them. I felt I need to adapt this kind of approach as well,” MS Dhoni said.
After the pandemic, it seemed like the age factor was playing a major role with Dhoni whose strike rate was under 125.00 in three consecutive IPL seasons (in 2020, 2021, and 2022). But, the wicketkeeper-batter made a remarkable comeback in the past two seasons (in 2023 and 2024). Especially in the previous edition, Dhoni maintained a 200-plus strike rate and ripped apart the opponent team’s bowlers with his hard-hitting abilities.
Due to the aging factor, there have been continuous talks about his retirement at the beginning of every IPL season. Even at the age of 43, Dhoni continues to perform like he used to entertain fans in his vintage days and proves to the world that age is just a number for him.
MS Dhoni Breaks Silence on Retirement Rumors: Conclusive Facts
Dhoni being one of those four players to play all 18 seasons of IPL has finally opened up on the speculations about his retirement saying that he would continue to play as long as the management wants: “No! Not At All! As I have been saying for the past few years, I exactly don’t know if I could play for another one, two, three, five, or ten years. However, my franchise has offered me the freedom that till the time I want to play, even if I’m on the chair, they are like don’t worry, you will certainly play. This is how they have been for years. So, right now I want to enjoy playing cricket as much as I can as I mentioned in the last few years. To make things easier, it is one year at a time, then take another eight months to decide if I want to play next year or not,” MSD clarified.
