IPL 2022: CSK fans go into frenzy as MS Dhoni gives up captaincy
Just two days before their opening Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made a shocking revelation that MS Dhoni has decided to give up captaincy of the team. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was retained for Rs 16 crore by the franchise, has been named the new CSK captain.
"MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK. Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond," read a statement on CSK's twitter handle.
📑 Official Statement 📑#WhistlePodu #Yellove 💛🦁 @msdhoni @imjadeja
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 24, 2022
Ravindra Jadeja is only the third captain of CSK’s history, with Suresh Raina being the other apart from MS Dhoni. The all-rounder has been part of the CSK since 2012 and only played for the different franchises in 2016 and 2017 when CSK was suspended.
In recent years, Ravindra Jadeja has done extremely well with the bat and the ball for CSK and is one of the finest fielders in IPL.
Former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar also suggested that the all-rounder could take over the captaincy role from Dhoni if the latter decided to take a break.
"The way Ravindra Jadeja has matured as a player over the last few years, the way he is making the adjustment as far as his game is concerned and the way he reads match situations has been absolutely fantastic. If in the odd game MS Dhoni decides to take a break, I won't be surprised if the mantle of captaincy will be handed over to Jadeja," Gavaskar said during a Gameplan episode.
After the news broke out, CSK fans took to Twitter to express their views. While some supporters regretted Dhoni's call to step down as captain just two days ahead of the tournament, others expressed joy over Jadeja's appointment as the new captain.
Here's a look at some of the reactions:
We aren't prepared for this😭😭💔😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
— Substitute Cricketer (@kurkureter) March 24, 2022
Literally Main ro raha hai ye news sun kar pic.twitter.com/uPzrkSwiuS
Well well, how do we take this. Have seen Thala do wonders and lead Namma CSK all these years.
— Whistle Podu Army ® - CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) March 24, 2022
Time for passing of the baton !#Dhoni #MSDhoni #CSK #WhistlePodu #Jadeja https://t.co/15qb529Eat
No one has quite bridged the north south divide on the cricket field in recent times quite like @msdhoni as CSK captain. CSK as franchise and Dhoni as captain were Ek Duje Ke Liye.. i #MSDhoni
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) March 24, 2022
MS Dhoni as captain in IPL history:
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 24, 2022
Matches - 204
Wins - 121
Lost - 82
No Rest - 1
Win percentage - 59.60
4 time IPL winning captain
2 time CL T20 winning captain
Thank you, captain. pic.twitter.com/EQk13ZqxNm
You will always be our captain @msdhoni 🙏 pic.twitter.com/C0wzGVT1LN
— DHONI Trends™ 🦁 (@TrendsDhoni) March 24, 2022
MS Dhoni started his captaincy stinct with a trophy and ended it the same way. Poetic. pic.twitter.com/iX0NhkAGKV
— ` (@FourOverthrows) March 24, 2022
Can think of a better replacement skipper for MS Dhoni than the Rockstar @imjadeja !! #IPL2022
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2022
Man I was literally thinking today how cool it is we still get to see MS Dhoni slay as CSK skip! The captaincy is in safe hands with Jadeja. But it hurts my heart a little knowing Mahi is in the winding down phase of his career. He’s given the game so much & gives us so much joy!
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 24, 2022
ThankYou Captain 💛💛@msdhoni | #MSDhoni | #whistlePodu pic.twitter.com/IV9fhgurua
— DHONI Era™ 🤩🦁 (@TheDhoniEra) March 24, 2022
Also Read: Anushka Sharma spoils Virat Kohli’s plans to sort out problem at home [Watch]
First published: 24 March 2022, 16:07 IST