Fans In Shock After MS Dhoni’ CSK Bombshell Ahead Of IPL 2024 Opener
In true MS Dhoni style, this announcement has also come out of the blue and has left almost the entire country in shock.
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have dropped a massive bombshell, announcing Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of the franchise for the upcoming season. Five-time IPL winning captain MS Dhoni has stepped down as the leader of the Yellove Brigade.
"MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of TATA IPL 2024. Ruturaj has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2019 and has played 52 matches in IPL during this period. The team looks forward to the upcoming season," CSK said in an official release.
Ever since the news of Dhoni stepping down as captain was made public, social media went into overdrive and there are several fans who are getting emotional on X (formerly Twitter).
Here are some of the reactions:
That Golden Era
— Cric kid (@ritvik5_) March 21, 2024
Captain Thala #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/Ujh51w6BYB
#MSDhoni final match as the captain these scenes! END OF AN ERA IN IPL :! pic.twitter.com/fpzXlY4jB1
— ࣪ (@getvibesheres) March 21, 2024
-MS Dhoni's final match as the captain these scenes..
— KIRTHIC (@_JustNow) March 21, 2024
- END OF AN ERA IN IPL...!!!#MSDhoni #RCBvsCSK pic.twitter.com/nKGIq4M4tq
JUST IN : Ruturaj Gaikwad is the New Captain of Chennai Super Kings, The Batton is Passed.#MSDhoni #WhistlePodu #IPL2024 #CSK
— Saravanan Hari (@CricSuperFan) March 21, 2024
📸 via @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/39GL8MPT0T
No MS Dhoni vs Rohit Sharma rivalry anymore
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) March 21, 2024
IPL is now only for gen Z kids
I officially retire as an IPL fan #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/VduzJJdEFK
#MSDhoni is no longer CSK captain pic.twitter.com/Sjmj4iMrsx
— Colourhalos (@paanipaaa) March 21, 2024
Thanku captain for all this memories @msdhoni #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/wuhEx8MaF8
— Seemi (@seemii_010) March 21, 2024
Tumhare Decision Se Tum Khush To Hum Bhi Khush
— 𓆩𝕏𝖍𝖚𝖇𝖍𓆪 (@xhubhh) March 21, 2024
Captain in Our Heart Forever
#MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/PhUiCxPoQd
For the captains' photoshoot ahead of IPL 2024 opener between RCB and CSK, it was Ruturaj Gaikwad who came to represent the Chennai-based franchise, and it was then that it was confirmed that Dhoni is no longer the captain of CSK.
This is the second time that Dhoni has stepped down as captain of CSK, having done it earlier in 2022 when he handed over the reins of the franchise to Ravindra Jadeja.
However, following CSK's poor start in IPL 2022, Dhoni took back the captaincy, and he then guided the franchise to their fifth title win in 2023.
As captain of CSK, Dhoni has won 128 matches and lost 82 games. For the unversed, the former India captain led the franchise in 212 IPL matches. CSK won the IPL five times -- 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.
Dhoni had bid adieu to international cricket on August 15, 2020.
