MS Dhoni Steps Down as CSK Captain,Hands Reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five Indian Premier League (IPL) trophies, has stepped down from captaincy duties ahead of their opening encounter against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 17th edition of the IPL.This isn’t Dhoni’s first time relinquishing the CSK captaincy. In early 2022, he handed over the to Ravindra Jadeja. However, after a string of losses, Dhoni resumed captaincy mid-season, though the team finished poorly. They bounced back in 2023 with Dhoni leading them to another IPL title. This time, however, he has opted to pass the torch to a younger player, the promising Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Most Matches as Captain in IPL

Player	Span	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	Draw	NR
MS Dhoni	2008-2023	226	133	91	0	0	2
Rohit Sharma	2013-2023	158	87	67	4	0	0
Virat Kohli	2011-2023	143	66	70	3	0	4
Gautam Gambhir	2009-2018	129	71	57	1	0	0

Dhoni’s Captaincy Legacy with CSK

MS Dhoni’s journey with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) began right from the inception of the IPL. He was not only bought by the franchise but also crowned as their captain, marking the start of a highly successful partnership. Dhoni’s remarkable longevity as captain is a testament to his leadership skills. Age might have made him the league’s senior captain, but Dhoni’sleadership, like fine wine, got much more better with time
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CSK’s dominance under Dhoni was undeniable.

They qualified for the playoffs consecutively from 2008 to 2015, reaching the finals four times in a row between 2010 and 2013, winning two and losing two. After CSK’s two-year ban from the IPL, their comeback was triumphant, winning their third trophy in 2018. They reached the finals again in 2019 but fell short against Mumbai Indians in a thrilling match.

CSK: A Rollercoaster Ride – Triumphs and Setbacks in the Last Four Years

While 2020 and 2022 were forgettable seasons, Dhoni’s trademark ability to bounce back shone through as CSK secured two more titles in 2021 and 2023. Dhoni’s captaincy record for CSK is truly impressive. In his 212 matches as captain, he led them to victory in 128 games, losing only 82, with two matches having no result.

Here we can look at the other Stats and milestones achieved by MS Dhoni as Captain in the Indian Premier League
10-Most finals as IPL captain
226 – Most matches as captain In IPL
133-Most wins as a captain in IPL
218 – Most sixes as captain in IPL
2010 and 2011– First captain to defend IPL title in successive years
5 – Joint most titles as captain in IPL
44 vs RCB – Most sixes as a captain against an opponent in IPL
790 vs RCB – Most runs as captain against opponents in IPL
12-Most Appearances as Captain in IPL Playoffs
4660 – Second Most runs as Captain in IPL
16 – Most player of the match award as captain in IPL