Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed new CSK captain as MS Dhoni era comes to an end

New Delhi, Mar 21: Ruturaj Gaikwad Takes Over the Reins as CSK Look to Start a New Chapter.

The Chennai Super Kings are embarking on a new era with Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed as the team's captain ahead of IPL 2024. The announcement was made this week after Gaikwad represented CSK at the captain's meeting in Chennai. This brings an end to the legendary MS Dhoni's illustrious 16-year reign as CSK skipper, during which he led the team to an unprecedented five IPL titles.

Speculation had been rife about Dhoni's future since he stepped down as India's limited-overs captain in 2017. The move to hand the captaincy mantle to Gaikwad allows CSK to groom their next leader while the great Dhoni transitions to a mentoring role. The talented young opener is coming off a stellar season in 2023 where he won the Orange Cap and will be keen to replicate that success in his new role at the helm.

Gaikwad now has big shoes to fill as he takes CSK forward into a fresh new phase. However, with Dhoni and the rest of the experienced core still part of the side, the transition seems smooth. It will be interesting to see how the three-time champions adapt to life without their talismanic captain at the forefront.