'This is MS Dhoni’s last season' - Ravi Shastri anticipates 'Captain Cool' will hang his boots post IPL 2024

Former India head coach, Ravi Shastri has weighed in his opinion on Chennai Super Kings' decision to pass the captaincy baton before the start of the Indian Premier League 2024. Shastri believed that this move depended on MS Dhoni's fitness and the team's demands for him to play in the current season of the cash-rich tournament. 

On Sunday, CSK are playing their third group stage game against Delhi Capitals in Match 13 at Vizag's Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium. The defending champions have been unbeaten so far in the ongoing tournament and will aim to continue their winning streak against the winless DC team. Shastri also stated that Dhoni would allow the opening batter to captain and intervene only when necessary.

“This is MS Dhoni’s last season, okay, very clear. You know, it depends on how his body copes with everything, whether he plays the whole season or doesn’t, only time will tell. But what he has done is that he said, I don’t want to give the job to Ruturaj halfway through the tournament,” Shastri said as quoted by News18.

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“Be in the hot seat from the outside, I'm (Dhoni is) watching from the back, and if he (Ruturaj) needs some help I’m there to help him out, but I think as compared to the year when Jadeja was captain, MS will take more and more of the backseat and probably contribute just in a little way between the drinks break or something like that,” he added. 

CSK aim to maintain their old charm under new captain

The Super Kings started their campaign with a big surprise, as the legendary Dhoni stepped down from leadership and handed over the reins to top-order batter Ruturaj Gaikwad. This was the second time the franchise had made significant changes to the team's leadership.

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Unlike the previous instance when Ravindra Jadeja was appointed captain in 2022, Gaikwad's appointment has brought favourable results with the team defeating the likes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. Currently, CSK are at the top of the table with the highest net run rate of +1.979.