Before CSK legend renounces his captaincy ahead of IPL 2024 opener against RCB, Rohit Sharma praises MS Dhoni

Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed his utmost respect for MS Dhoni following the Chennai Super Kings’ bombshell announcement on Thursday regarding a change in captaincy. Dhoni, for the second time in his illustrious career, has decided to relinquish his role as CSK’s captain ahead of the upcoming season. On the eve of the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai officially named Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad as the new captain of the team.

Taking to Instagram after the revelation of Ruturaj as CSK’s new captain, former Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Rohit shared a heartfelt post dedicated to Dhoni. Rohit reminisced about MI’s encounters with CSK in the IPL while congratulating Dhoni on his remarkable journey as a captain. While Gaikwad has succeeded Dhoni at CSK, Rohit, the former skipper, has been replaced by Hardik Pandya as the captain of Mumbai Indians for the upcoming season. Matches between Mumbai and Chennai have always been highly anticipated in the IPL, often referred to as the El Clásico of the league. Under the leadership of Rohit and Dhoni, MI and CSK have emerged as two of the most successful teams in the IPL’s history, each winning five titles as captains, making them the joint most successful captains in the tournament’s history. It will be the first time in the IPL that neither of the former MI and CSK skippers will be present for the traditional toss.

CSK, the record-time winners, issued a brief statement confirming the change in leadership at Chepauk. “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 stated. Earlier, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan revealed that Dhoni informed the franchise about his decision before the skippers’ meeting in Chennai.

Dhoni led CSK to IPL glory in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023, while Rohit secured five IPL titles as MI captain in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Dhoni holds the record for the most matches played (226) as captain in the IPL, followed by veteran opener Rohit, who captained in 158 matches. Rohit won 87 and lost 67 matches as captain of MI. Dhoni, on the other hand, registered victories in 128 games out of 212 encounters, losing 82 as captain of the CSK franchise.