Who will replace MS Dhoni as CSK captain? CEO reveals N Srinivasan’s clear take
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that there are talks about a succession plan in the franchise, but revealed owner N Srinivasan’s message.
when it comes to deciding MS Dhoni’s successor. Chennai Super Kings will be led by MS Dhoni in IPL 2024, starting March 22, but the 5-time champions will be looking to identify a future captaincy prospect, considering the talks about their skipper’s future in the T20 tournament.
MS Dhoni doused retirement rumours last year and said he would return to play for Chennai Super Kings for at least another season and that it was a return gift from his side to the fans. Dhoni managed a knee injury last year as he led the Super Kings to their fifth IPL crown. Dhoni underwent knee surgery and worked hard on his recovery before getting fit in time for the new season.
MS Dhoni arrived in Chennai in the first week of March and has been leading CSK’s training sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which will host the IPL 2024 season opener between CSK and Royal Challengers Bangalore next Friday.
While CSK will be focused on defending their title in IPL 2024, all eyes will also be on Dhoni’s plans and who he would identify as his potential replacement as captain.
“See, there have been internal talks. But, Mr. Srinivasan has made it very clear. Let’s not talk about captain and vice-captain appointments. Let’s leave it to the coach and the captain to decide. Let them decide and convey the information to me, and then I will convey it to you all. He has said that ‘the captain and the coach will decide and give us a directive, till then let’s all keep quiet’,” CSK CEO Viswanathan told S Badrinath in the latter’s YouTube show.
Notably, CSK had given the captain’s armband to Ravindra Jadeja at the start of IPL 2022 season. However, after a series of poor results, Jadeja stepped down and handed over the captaincy back to Dhoni.
MESSAGE FROM MS DHONI
Dhoni led CSK throughout the 2023 season in which the Super Kings defeated Gujarat Titans in the final in Ahmedabad to become the joint most successful franchise in the tournament history.
Meanwhile, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that the Men in Yellow are hopeful of another strong showing in the IPL and revealed MS Dhoni’s plans for the new season.
“We have always focused on qualifying for the knockouts. That’s our first aim. After that, it depends on the performance on that day. We are following that even now. Before every season, MS Dhoni tells us ‘first let us concentrate on league games. We will look to qualify for the knockouts’. Yes, the pressure is there. But over the years, because of our consistency, most of the players are used to this pressure,” he added.