‘But remember…he’ll still be the Leader’: Former Indian opener’s big statement after MS Dhoni steps down as CSK skipper | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday once again created a storm, despite doing it in a hush-hush manner, as the legendary wicket-keeper batter stepped down from the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), handing over reins to young Ruturaj Gaikwad a day before the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Gaikwad, with six ODIs and 19 T20s under his belt for India, marked his debut for CSK in 2020, eventually becoming a stalwart in their lineup, featuring in 52 matches.The elegant opener showcased his prowess notably last season, amassing 590 runs across 16 matches, exhibiting a commendable strike rate of 147.50.ALSO READ: Watch IPL in Qatar
Reacting to this shocking development, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, stating “But remember…he’ll still be the Leader. Once a leader, always a leader.”
“Whoaaa…and just like that he’s not the captain anymore. Love the way Mahi operates…no fuss whatsoever. But remember…he’ll still be the Leader. Once a leader, always a leader,” Aakash wrote on X.

The Indian Premier League revealed the development in a post on X.
“Presenting @ChennaiIPL’s Captain – @Ruutu1331,” the IPL posted on X shortly after releasing a picture of all captains posing with the IPL trophy.

Dhoni has captained Chennai since the inception of the league in 2008 and the team did not provide details about his future beyond this year’s edition.
“Ruturaj has been an integral part of Chennai since 2019 and has played 52 matches in IPL during this period. The team looks forward to the upcoming season,” CSK said in a statement.
With Dhoni’s anticipated retirement looming at the end of the season, the franchise recognised the necessity for a seamless transition in his role as a player.