The excitement of IPL 2025 is at its peak, and a significant piece of news is emerging from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp. The availability of CSK's regular captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, for the match against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, April 5th, is in question.
Sports News: The 17th match of IPL 2025 will be played between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, April 5th. Before this crucial match, a concern has arisen for CSK—team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad sustained a hand injury while batting against the Rajasthan Royals, raising doubts about his participation against Delhi Capitals.
The biggest question now is: if Gaikwad doesn't play, who will take over the captaincy? Will 'Thala' MS Dhoni return to the captaincy once again?
Coach Michael Hussey's Response
CSK's batting coach, Michael Hussey, provided an update on Ruturaj's injury during a press conference. He stated, "Ruturaj will try batting in the nets today. His hand is still swollen, but the condition is improving daily. Hopefully, he will be fit to play against Delhi."
However, when asked who would captain if Ruturaj doesn't play, Hussey's response was somewhat evasive. He said, "To be honest, we haven't made a final decision on that. But I think coach Stephen Fleming and Ruturaj himself would have discussed it. We have some young players in the team who keep wickets, and they have some captaincy experience. They might handle it well."
Although Hussey didn't name Dhoni, his implication was clear—there is a seasoned player in the team who can take on the team's captaincy without being explicitly named.
Dhoni's Captaincy Legacy
Dhoni last captained CSK in 2023, leading the team to their fifth IPL title. Before that, in 2022, he handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja, but after the team's struggles, he reassumed the responsibility. In 2024, he stepped down from captaincy, handing the leadership to Gaikwad and taking on a mentor role.
Fans are now eagerly awaiting to see if MS Dhoni will once again take the field as captain in the match against Delhi. Witnessing 'Thala' at the Chepauk Stadium is always special, and if the captain's hat adorns his head once more, this match could become even more historic.
