MS Dhoni Back With a Bang as CSK Captain Against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025

Prior to the Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) April 5 match against the Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, batting coach Michael Hussey provided an update on Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury. Depending on Gaikwad's fitness, Hussey said the final decision about the captain's availability will be made closer to the match. When the CSK captain attempted to dodge Tushar Deshpande's rising delivery, which bounced from a short of decent length, he was struck in the elbow against the Rajasthan Royals. Ruturaj is putting in a lot of effort in the nets, but Hussey said he is still "bit sore."

Gaikwad's availability for the match on Saturday afternoon is in question after he was hit in the hands by a ball from Tushar Deshpande. With five IPL championships and two Champions League T20 crowns under their belt, CSK, captained by Dhoni, has been a formidable force in IPL history. The 43-year-old most recently captained the team in the IPL 2023 final against the Gujarat Titans, where CSK won a three-day encounter marred by rain.

MS Dhoni's Blockbuster Entry:

Hussey stated at the news conference prior to the game, "Ruturaj Gaikwad’s participation in tomorrow’s game will depend on how well he recovers. He is still sore, and we would take a call as to how he bats in the nets today. If he doesn’t play, I'm not sure who will lead. But there is a strong chance that a young wicketkeeper might fill in."

The only other player with prior Super Kings leadership experience on the current CSK team is Ravindra Jadeja. After a string of subpar performances under the all-rounder, MS Dhoni assumed the role of captain halfway through the 2022 season, replacing Jadeja as captain. With two points from three games, CSK is now ranked eighth in the standings. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals in their next games after a strong start against the Mumbai Indians.

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