MS Dhoni May Lead CSK Again as Gaikwad’s Injury Puts Leadership in Doubt

IPL 2025 Update: MS Dhoni Could Lead CSK Once Again

Former CSK captain, MS Dhoni might once lead Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming match against Delhi Capitals at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai if current skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is unable to recover from the injury.

Current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was hit by a delivery of Tushar Deshpande during the match against Rajasthan Royals. Although Gaikwad continued his batting after receiving treatment, he has been unable to train since then.

Chennai Super Kings batting coach, Mike Hussey, hopefully said that Gaikwad will be fit in time for the upcoming game, but his status remains doubtful. A final decision regarding his participation will be made based on his performance in a training session ahead of the match.

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If Gaikwad is unable to recover and is unfit to play, the leadership responsibility may fall to MS Dhoni, as CSK currently lacks a clear captaincy option. However, batting coach Hussey stated that while he hasn’t focused much on the captaincy situation in Gaikwad’s absence, Dhoni could step in due to his extensive leadership experience and also hinted at the possibility of a younger player taking on the role.

On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad is one of the leading scorers in the league and a standout batter for the team, his absence would significantly impact CSK’s batting, as he has been their most consistent performer in the top order. If this happens the team might need to make changes to their playing XI, potentially bringing back Devon Conway, which would require adjustments to their overseas player combination.

The match on Saturday is crucial for CSK, who have won just one of their first three games in the season. The team will be looking for a strong performance, especially without a fully fit Gaikwad.