MS Dhoni Returns as CSK Captain After Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Injury Ends IPL 2025 Campaign
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faces a significant setback as opening batsman and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2025 season due to an elbow injury. The unfortunate incident occurred during CSK’s match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30th when Gaikwad was struck on the forearm by a delivery from fast bowler Tushar Deshpande. Despite the blow, Gaikwad bravely continued his innings, contributing a crucial 63 runs. However, the injury proved to be more serious than initially thought. Subsequent matches against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings saw Gaikwad struggle, scoring only 5 and 1 run respectively, clearly hampered by the persistent pain.
CSK Head Coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the extent of the injury after an MRI scan revealed a fracture in the radial neck of Gaikwad’s elbow. “He’s been playing with a significant amount of pain,” Fleming revealed. “An initial X-ray was inconclusive, but the MRI showed the fracture. We’re incredibly disappointed for him. We appreciate his dedication and efforts to play through the pain, but unfortunately, he won’t be able to continue in the tournament.”
In light of Gaikwad’s injury, the reins of captaincy have been handed back to veteran MS Dhoni for the rest of the season. Dhoni, who led CSK to five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023) and two Champions League titles, previously captained the side from 2008 to 2024 before passing the baton to Gaikwad. He briefly returned to the captaincy role in 2022 when Ravindra Jadeja stepped down. Fleming confirmed Dhoni’s willingness to step up, stating, “He had no hesitation in taking on the leadership role again. There was never any doubt. We’ll now assess our options for replacements, prioritizing players already within the squad.”
This change in leadership comes at a crucial juncture for CSK. The team currently sits precariously in ninth place on the IPL points table, having secured just one victory from their first five matches. Their upcoming fixtures include a home game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, followed by away matches against Lucknow Super Giants on April 14th and Mumbai Indians on April 20th. With Dhoni’s tactical acumen and experience back at the helm, CSK hopes to revitalize their campaign and climb the points table. The team will undoubtedly look to draw inspiration from Dhoni’s leadership as they strive to overcome this challenging period and make a push for another IPL title.
The loss of Gaikwad is a significant blow to CSK, given his consistent performance at the top of the order. The team management will now need to strategize effectively to fill the void left by his absence. While the immediate focus will be on finding a suitable replacement in the batting line-up, the return of Dhoni as captain brings a sense of familiarity and stability to the team. His experience and tactical nous will be crucial in navigating the challenges ahead and inspiring the team to perform at their best. The cricketing world will be watching closely to see how CSK responds to this adversity and whether Dhoni can once again lead them to glory.
