Ruturaj Gaikwad reveals when MS Dhoni decided to hand him CSK captaincy for IPL 2024

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MS Dhoni informed Ruturaj Gaikwad about his promotion as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain a week before the start of the CSK vs RCB first match of IPL 2024 on Friday, March 22. The revelation has been made by none other than the newly-appointed CSK captain Gaikwad himself.

CSK in an official release on Wednesday, informed that MS Dhoni had decided to hand over the CSK captaincy to young Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni led CSK to record-equalling fifth IPL trophy last year. Under his leadership, CSK qualified and made it into the IPL playoffs for a record 12 times.

After being invited to bat first by Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis, Gaikwad said it was a privilege to lead CSK, the franchise which gave him the opportunity to make his IPL debut back in 2020.

"Feel privileged. But I want to try and be in my shoes, not fill anybody's shoes. (On captaincy) I got to know last week, but Mahi bhai hinted at it last year," Gaikwad told Ravi Shastri at toss.

CSK Playing 11 vs RCB

Gaikwad regretted the unavailability of injured opener Devon Conway, and pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who is expected to join the squad soon after recovering from his hamstring injury.

He said Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Matheesha Theekshana, and Mustafizur Rahman would be the four overseas players for CSK against RCB. He also informed that uncapped Sameer Rizvi would be making his IPL debut.

"Everyone is experienced here, sadly we are missing Conway and Pathirana. We've got Rachin and Mitchell coming in though this year so they should fit in well. Looks like a good pitch, a hard surface that should hold up well for the second innings. Four overseas - Mitchell, Rachin, Fizz and Theekshana. The domestic player Sameer Rizvi is making his debut as well," Gaikwad said.

CSK Playing 11 vs RCB: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman