IPL 2022: Suresh Raina names four potential candidates who can succeed MS Dhoni as CSK captain

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has not seen anyone except MS Dhoni take charge of the team on full-time basis. Dhoni, fondly known as ‘Thala’, has been leading the team since its inception and has appeared in 213 matches as the skipper. Since 2008, CSK, who have four IPL titles to its name, has made its way into the playoffs in 11 of the 12 seasons the team has appeared in, and entered the finals nine times.

Suresh Raina, also known as Chinna Thala, was Dhoni’s ‘Mr. Dependable’ all this time. Raina, who wasn’t picked by any franchise this year, will be seen accompanying the Hindi commentators this season. Being a part of the Yellow Army since the beginning, Raina knows every bit and piece about the skipper, the team, its management, and the decision-making style.

At a webinar hosted by Star Sports, when asked the question of who could replace Dhoni to take the captaincy charge, he said: “Rayudu is there then you have Robin Uthappa then DJ Bravo is there. Jadeja, I think, has a good cricketing brain and has been performing well recently”.

Ravindra Jadeja front-runner to become next CSK captain 

Among the four names listed by Raina, Ravindra Jadeja seems to be the front-runner for the position and the age factor plays a major role in this case. Both Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu are 36, and the Caribbean all-rounder, Bravo, is 38. Jadeja, being the youngest of them all, aged 33, looks like the perfect fit as he’ll keep playing for the franchise for the next four-five years. Notably, Jadeja is also the highest-paid player in the franchise as he was retained by the team at a whopping fee of INR 16 crore.

Speaking of the expectations from the team this IPL season, Raina said that CSK will have to start-off on a high note. He believes that CSK knows how to make it to the playoffs, and they’ve the experience required, but the dew factor at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and at the MCA International Stadium in Pune will be something to be taken care of while strategizing.

Talking about making his commentary debut, he said: “I am prepared for this. Some of my friends Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Piyush Chawla are already doing commentary. And then we will have Ravi Bhai (Shastri) also in this season. So I think it’s going to be easy for me. I can take tips from my friends. I am very very happy and looking forward to this role.”