Dhoni gives up captaincy of IPL champions Chennai

Veteran star M.S. Dhoni has handed the captaincy of Indian Premier League champions Chennai Super Kings to Ruturaj Gaikwad, the club said on Thursday, one day ahead of the league’s first match.

Chennai Super Kings take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the Indian Premier League mega-show opens in Chennai on Friday.

“M.S. Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad,” the club said.

“Ruturaj has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2019 and has played 52 matches in IPL during this period.”

The season could be Chennai veteran Dhoni’s swansong, after the warhorse led the team to its fifth title in 2023.

He said then that another year was a “gift” to his fans.

The 42-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who led India to two World Cup triumphs, in 2007 and 2011, remains a huge star in cricket-crazy India.

New captain Gaikwad, a 27-year-old right-hand batter, shot to fame in 2021 when his attacking style earned him a hefty 635 runs for the Chennai Super Kings.

The 17th edition of the world’s richest cricket league is expected to end around June 1, when the World Cup starts in the West Indies and the United States.

Organizers have released only the first two weeks of the IPL schedule so far because it clashes with India’s six-week-long general election. Last season the 10-team IPL lasted eight weeks.

How to watch

This year’s IPL will be broadcast live on Ariana Television and streamed live on www.arianatelevision.com. Once the BCCI has released the full schedule, cricket fans will be informed.

On Friday, March 22, Ariana Television will kick off IPL season with a pre-match show at 6.30pm. The game will start at 7pm.

Make sure to watch this space for schedule updates and news on the event.