MS Dhoni may be called upon to lead Chennai Super Kings (CSK) once again, as the team awaits an update on skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury status. Gaikwad suffered a blow to his right elbow during CSK’s loss against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati and has been unable to train since.
CSK next face an in-form Delhi Capitals (DC) next at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, April 5. If Gaikwad gets fit in time and is able to bat, the 28-year-old will continue to bat. Else, we would see the legendary icon MS Dhoni come out at the toss for the 236th time!
Gaikwad’s injury to open door for Dhoni, the captain?
“Yeah, we’re hoping he [Gaikwad] is going to try and have a bat today for training,” Michael Hussey, CSK’s batting coach, said at his press conference on the eve of the match. “And, yeah, it [elbow] is still a little bit sore, but it’s improving every day. So, we’re very hopeful that he’ll be fine for tomorrow.
“I’m not sure, actually. I don’t think we’ve actually thought about that [captaincy] too much. Well, I haven’t thought about it too much. I’m sure Stephen Fleming (CSK head coach) and Rutu have thought about that. But we’ve got some young guy coming through. He’s behind the stumps. Maybe he can do a good job. I’m not sure. He’s got a bit of experience in the role, so maybe he could do it. But I’m not exactly sure, to be honest.”
While Hussey didn’t commit to Dhoni, what options does CSK have? Yes, Ravi Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja are there, but CSK knows how to give it back to the Chepauk crowd. The decibel metre would go through the roof if Dhoni comes out and flips the coin, even if for just one more time.
Dhoni or not, Gaikwad’s absence to weaken CSK
The potential absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad poses a massive threat to Chennai Super Kings’ batting lineup, rather than just a captaincy conundrum. As the in-form player at No. 3, Gaikwad’s steady starts have been crucial in masking the top-order’s struggles.
Without him, CSK will be forced to reshuffle their XI and overseas combination, potentially leading to a tricky selection dilemma. With Rahul Tripathi out of form, Devon Conway’s return to the lineup could be on the cards, but this would necessitate the omission of either Jamie Overton or Matheesha Pathirana. Conway, pairing up with Rachin Ravindra, could be vital to stick in solidarity.
Most IPL runs for CSK since 2022 ft. Gaikwad
| Player | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaikwad | 46 | 1657 | 108* | 39.45 | 140.66 | 1 | 13 | 150 | 66 |
| Dube | 42 | 1149 | 95* | 32.82 | 158.48 | 0 | 8 | 65 | 83 |
| Conway | 22 | 924 | 92* | 48.63 | 141.28 | 0 | 9 | 99 | 30 |
| Jadeja | 36 | 647 | 57* | 29.40 | 135.63 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 24 |
| Rahane | 23 | 568 | 71* | 25.81 | 147.53 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 23 |
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