In a dramatic turn of events, Stephen Fleming made the call, and MS Dhoni answered without hesitation. With Ruturaj Gaikwad sidelined due to a severe elbow injury, Chennai Super Kings needed their ultimate leader to steer the ship. And true to his legacy, Dhoni stepped up once more. When the chips are down, the ‘Thala’ rises.
“Ruturaj will be out for at least three to four weeks,” revealed a CSK insider to India Betting. “Fleming approached Dhoni and asked him to take over the reins, and he immediately agreed. The team’s form has been shaky, and Dhoni is the only one in that dressing room who can lead them through this chaos. He’s always ready when the franchise calls.”
CSK’s campaign has been far from ideal, with just one win in their first four matches, leaving them languishing at ninth in the table. The once-impenetrable fortress of Chepauk has been breached repeatedly, and another defeat at home against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday could spell disaster for the five-time IPL champions.
“We’ve had a rough start and need to turn things around,” the insider added. “Ruturaj’s injury is a blow, but we had to act swiftly. Who else but Dhoni could take charge? He didn’t think twice. He’s ready to guide the team out of this storm. There was never a doubt.”
Last year, Dhoni handed over the captaincy to Gaikwad, but the team failed to make the playoffs. This season hasn’t been any kinder. Gaikwad suffered an elbow injury during the match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Though he played the next two games, an MRI later confirmed a fracture, forcing CSK to make the tough call.
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