Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down as captain of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Thursday, handing over the reins to all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. CSK confirmed the news on their official Twitter account, adding that Dhoni will “represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond.”
Dhoni’s departure from the Chennai Super Kings signified the end of an era for the team; the wicketkeeper-batsman led the CSK to four Indian Premier League titles (2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021), as well as two titles in the now-defunct Champions League Twenty20 (2010 and 2014).
“MS Dhoni has opted to pass up the leadership of the Chennai Super Kings to Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja, who has been with the Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will be only the third player to captain the team “CSK stated in a statement.
“Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and in the future,” the organisation said in a statement.
MS Dhoni’s fitness and form, now 40, remain a concern, as the former CSK captain is only engaged in professional cricket in the Indian Premier League. Dhoni returned to CSK training earlier this month.
As the Chennai Super Kings announced the news, supporters paid respect to MS Dhoni and hailed him for his achievements as CSK captain:
CSK is the golden part of Dhoni's captaincy legacy. CSK achieved everything under him. Don't like this decision one bit as this is probably his last season in the IPL as well. Truly the end of an era.
Dhoni is, Dhoni was and Dhoni will be CSK🙌#WhistlePodu #Thala pic.twitter.com/i5ustxhTaG
— Robin (@robin_rounder) March 24, 2022
The choice of Ravindra Jadeja as captain signals the franchise’s first change in leadership. Previously, CSK’s former batter Suresh Raina captained the franchise in a single game against Yorkshire in the 2012 Champions League T20.
Dhoni had declared his retirement from international cricket in 2020, with his involvement in the 2019 World Cup being his final for India.
On March 26, the Chennai Super Kings will face Shreyas Iyer’s Kolkata Knight Riders in the tournament’s opening game. It will be a rerun of last year’s final, in which MS Dhoni’s team upset KKR by 27 runs to claim its fourth title.
