Chennai Super Kings will be up against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match no. 13 on Sunday night in Vizag. The defending champions have been one of the unbeaten sides in the ongoing tournament and will look to continue their winning streak when they lock horns with winless DC.
The Super Kings began their campaign with a massive surprise when legendary MS Dhoni relinquished his post and handed the reigns to top-order batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. It was the second instance when the franchise tried making wholesale changes to the team’s leadership. Unlike the previous case when Ravindra Jadeja was appointed the captain in 2022, they had favourable results to start the season with. Under Gaikwad’s leadership, CSK have defeated the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans and are currently placed at the top of the table with the highest Net Run Rate.
Ahead of their third group stage game on Sunday night, former India head coach Ravi Shastri expressed his opinion on CSK’s move before the commencement of the IPL 2024. Speaking on Star Sport, Shastri said it hinges on Dhoni’s fitness and the demands for him to compete in the ongoing season of the cash-rich tournament.
“This is MS Dhoni’s last season okay, very clear. You know, it depends on how his body copes with everything, whether he plays the whole season or doesn’t, only time will tell,” Shastri told Star Sports.
Speaking of passing the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shastri explained that Dhoni would let the opening batter express himself as captain and intervene only when it mattered the most.“But what he has done is that he said, I don’t want to give the job to Ruturaj halfway through the tournament. Be in the hot seat from the outside, I am watching from the back, and if he needs some help I’m there to help him out but I think as compared to the year when Jadeja was captain, MS will take more and more of the backseat and probably contribute just in a little way between the drinks break or something like that,” Shastri added.
