Trust MS Dhoni to do things when hardly anyone is expecting it! The iconic wicketkeeper-batter on Thursday stepped down from captaincy of the Chennai Super Kings as Ruturaj Gaikwad was named the new captain of CSK. The announcement, that came barely 36 hours before the start of IPL 2024, might have surprised many but not Ruturaj Gaikwad himself, said Ravichandran Ashwin.
R Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube show with analyst Prasanna, stated that he was certain that MS Dhoni would have informed Ruturaj Gaikwad of the change in Chennai Super Kings captaincy as early as 2023.
Dhoni must have told Ruturaj last year: Ashwin
“This was an inevitable decision. It had to come at some stage. I know MS Dhoni. He keeps the team at the forefront. He keeps thinking about the well-being of the team. Because of that, 2 years ago, he gave the captain’s armband to Jadeja. Now he has given it to Ruturaj. This decision had to happen. Who and how remained the question,” Ashwin said.
“I am answering your question. Ruturaj wouldn’t have thought his role was only a batter until yesterday. I know MS Dhoni very well. Sitting in his room, enjoying dinner with the youngsters, he must have told Ruturaj last year, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case. I definitely think it was not a surprise for Ruturaj,” he added.
Ashwin’s remarks followed CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan statement that he was only made aware of MS Dhoni’s resignation prior to the captains’ Thursday photo shoot in Chennai on Thursday.
“‘Brother, you are going to take charge. You can do all these things. I will be there, don’t worry’ is something that Dhoni night have told Ruturaj well in advance,” Ashwin said.
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Ashwin also backed Ruturaj as the new CSK captain, using adjectives that well and truly define MS Dhoni.
“I know Ruturaj, he is extremely cool and calm. He is a very good human being. I am extremely elated for him,” Ashwin said.
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