“MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team,” CSK said in a statement on Thursday.
📑 Official Statement 📑#WhistlePodu #Yellove 💛🦁 @msdhoni @imjadeja
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) 1648112704000
The statement clearly indicates that it was Dhoni who picked Jadeja to be his successor. Jadeja too has been with CSK for a long time, having joined the yellow brigade in 2012 for approximately Rs 9.8 Crore, which made him the most expensive buy of that auction.
Jadeja was retained for Rs 16 Crore by CSK ahead of the last player auction.
“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,” the CSK statement further read.
Dhoni has been leading the four time IPL champions – CSK since the inaugural edition in 2008.
Whist7⃣ePodu 💛 Whist8⃣ePodu@msdhoni @imjadeja https://t.co/TtE0tJdwnp
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) 1648115880000
Dhoni, who is also affectionately called Thala (the leader), a name given to him by the CSK fans, has won four IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 2021. He is the second-most successful skipper in IPL history. Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians captain, is on top of the list with 5 titles.
CSK won their fourth title last season in 2021, beating the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.
Over the years, CSK and MS Dhoni have become synonymous with each other and Dhoni enjoys a huge fan following in Tamil Nadu thanks to his long association with CSK. The only two seasons that Dhoni didn’t turn up for CSK were the two seasons the franchise was suspended for.
CSK will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26.
Dhoni, 40, had announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020, after playing his last match for Team India at the 2019 World Cup.
The announcement took CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan by surprise but he said “if Dhoni takes a decision, it has to be in the best interest of the team”.
“See whatever decision MS takes it is in the best interest of the team. So there is nothing to worry for us. We respect his decision. He is always there to guide us,” Viswanthan said.
“He has always been the guiding force and will continue to be the guiding force.”
Asked if the 2022 edition can be his last season, the CEO added: “I don’t think it will be his last season. As long as he is fit, we want him to play. That is my wish, I don’t know about him (what he thinks).”
On Jadeja’s ascension as captain, Viswanathan said the all-rounder is primed to do well.
“See Jaddu will do well. He is probably in the best form of his career. He will definitely do well under MS’ guidance. Jaddu has been with us for 10 years and he very well knows the team culture,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
