MS Dhoni Hands Over CSK Captaincy To Gaikwad: Was This The "New Role" Teased By MSD?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday (March 21) stunned the Yellow Brigade after he handed over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad a day ahead of the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

This is not the first time MS Dhoni has stepped down from captaincy and handed over a role to a younger player. In 2022, days before the new season in Maharashtra, Dhoni had handed over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja.

MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad Was this the new role

However, that transistion didn't work out as Jadeja stepped down as captain mid-way through the season with Dhoni taking charge again and led the side to their record-equalling fifth title in the following season in 2023.

Now in a repeat from 2022, Dhoni has handed over the captaincy to Gaikwad just a day before the season, leading to a discussion about the former skipper's cryptic social media post, which hinted a "new role" in the upcoming season.

Earlier this month, Dhoni took to Facebook and posted: "Can't wait for the new season and the new 'role'. Stay tuned!" While handing over the captaincy seems like a role change, that post has no connection to what happened on Thursday (March 21).

What did Dhoni mean by "new role" in a social media post?

Many may mistake the stepping down from captaincy role as something that was hinted in his social media post of Facebook. But that post was soon followed up with another post on the social media platform just two days later, and it was something to do with an ad for IPL on JioCinema.

"New season, double role! All the action brought to you absolutely free with #IPLonJioCinema, starting 22nd March. Kyunki sab yahaan, aur kahaan!
#IPL2024 #TATAIPL JioCinema," Dhoni posted with the ad video.

In the promo video for JioCinema, Dhoni is seen in an old man's role along with his current avatar as they added hype to the cricket carnival, which is set to start on Friday (March 22).

Although that FB post had no connection to Dhoni handing over the captaincy to Gaikwad, the former skipper is definitely set for a "new role" from this season as CSK prepare for life after their legend, who turns 43 in July this year.

Dhoni is likely to play in all the matches this season as CSK have only India U-19 World Cup star Aravelly Avanish Rao as the back-up wicketkeeper in the squad with Devon Conway, the other option, being ruled out for the first half of the season.