MS Dhoni Returns as CSK Captain for IPL 2025 as Ruturaj Gaikwad Suffers Elbow Injury
CHENNAI: In a dramatic turn of events, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been forced to shuffle their leadership deck on the eve of a critical encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the young captain who has been steering the CSK ship, has been ruled out for the remainder of IPL 2025 due to a broken elbow sustained during a match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati last week. The injury occurred when Gaikwad was struck by a fierce delivery from teammate Tushar Deshpande, and medical scans confirmed the severity of the damage.
Stepping into the breach is none other than the legendary MS Dhoni, who will don the captain’s armband once again in a move that has sent ripples of excitement through the CSK fanbase. “Ruturaj has unfortunately been sidelined for the season with a broken elbow. We’re thrilled to have a leader of MS Dhoni’s caliber take over the reins,” said head coach Stephen Fleming during a tense pre-match press conference. Dhoni, who handed over the captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, has reportedly embraced the challenge despite initial reluctance, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Gaikwad’s injury comes at a precarious time for CSK, who are struggling with just one win in five matches this season. A loss against KKR on Friday could severely dent their hopes of making the IPL playoffs. The young batter had been grappling with patchy form, managing only 155 runs at an average of 25.83 in the games he played this season. With Gaikwad unavailable, CSK faces a dilemma at the top of the order. Will they turn to the experienced Rahul Tripathi to open alongside Devon Conway, or take a punt on uncapped talents like Shaikh Rashid or Andre Siddarth? All eyes will be on Fleming’s tactical blueprint.
Meanwhile, CSK’s opponents, the defending champions KKR, are not in great shape either, having secured only two wins from five outings. However, the Chepauk pitch might offer some respite to their spin-heavy attack led by Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. KKR have openly expressed dissatisfaction with the tracks at their home ground, Eden Gardens, but the slow, turning surface in Chennai could play to their strengths—an advantage they will eagerly exploit in this must-win fixture.
Is CSK Underutilizing Ravindra Jadeja’s Talents?
Amidst the captaincy transition and injury setbacks, another concern looms large for CSK— the apparent underutilization of their star all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja. Retained for a whopping ₹18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Jadeja has been a cornerstone of CSK’s success over the years with his dual skills. Yet, in the five matches played so far, the left-arm spinner has not bowled his full quota of four overs in any game. Across the 13 overs he has bowled, Jadeja has conceded 105 runs at an economy rate of 8.07, numbers that don’t reflect his potential impact.
“We have six bowling options, and we adapt based on the match situation. It’s not a fixed role for anyone,” Fleming explained, defending the team’s strategy. As a batter, Jadeja has also been restricted to a finisher’s role, often coming in late despite the top-order’s struggles. “We value his partnership with MS at the back end. It’s a combination that works for us,” added Fleming. However, with CSK’s campaign hanging by a thread, fans and analysts alike are questioning whether the team is getting the best out of their match-winner.
As the Yellow Army braces for a pivotal clash against KKR, the return of Captain Cool offers a glimmer of hope. Can Dhoni weave his magic once more and guide CSK out of troubled waters? With the odds stacked against them, only time—and Friday’s result—will tell.