MS Dhoni could lead Chennai Super Kings again when the five-time champions play Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2025 match on Saturday. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s availability for the match is yet to be confirmed after he suffered an injury to his forearm. Ruturaj Gaikwad was struck on his right arm by a delivery from Tushar Deshpande during the Rajasthan Royals game. The report alleged that Gaikwad did not practice before the game and CSK batting coach Mike Hussey added that there will be a call taken about him prior to the game. With no alternative captain in the squad, Dhoni is likely to rise to the occasion and take charge in front of the home crowd in Chennai.
Michael Hussey Provides Update on Gaikwad’s Fitness
“Yeah, we’re hoping he’s going to try and have a bat today for training. And, yeah, it’s still a little bit sore, but it’s improving every day. So, we’re very hopeful, very confident that he’ll be fine for tomorrow (Saturday),” Hussey said on the eve of the game.
Potential Captaincy Alternatives For CSK Including MS Dhoni
When pressed for possible captaincy options, Hussey did a tongue-in-cheek mention of MS Dhoni.
“I’m not sure, actually. I don’t think we’ve actually thought about that too much. Well, I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m sure (Stephen) Fleming and Rutu (Ruturaj) have thought about that.”
“But we’ve got some young guy coming through. He’s behind the stumps. Maybe he can do a good job. I’m not sure. He’s got a bit of experience in the role, so maybe he could do it. But I’m not exactly sure, to be honest,” Hussey said.
Pitch and Weather Conditions at Chepauk
The MA Chidambaram pitch is likely to be slow and spinner-friendly. Afternoon weather conditions will eliminate any dew factor, so toss will become less of an issue and the focus would be on tactical bowling and intelligent batting.
CSK vs DC: Past and Present Form and Head-to-Head Record
Historically, CSK have dominated DC at Chepauk, but the present team balance and current form weigh heavily in Delhi’s favour. Victory for DC could see them ascend to the table top, whereas CSK urgently need to put a stop to their slide before it’s too late.
Despite Delhi being in good nick presently, the head-to-head tally is heavily in Chennai’s favor. CSK have triumphed in 19 of the 30 matches between the teams, while DC have found victory only 11 times.
