Legendary Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni shared insights about his discussions with Ruturaj Gaikwad following Gaikwad's assumption of the captaincy from him last season. Although Dhoni stepped down from his leadership role, he had informed Gaikwad after IPL 2023 that he would be leading the team in the upcoming season. The 28-year-old faced challenges at the beginning of his captaincy, as Chennai did not qualify for the playoffs and ended the league stage in fifth place.

Dhoni explained the rationale behind selecting Gaikwad as his successor when he chose to step aside from the captaincy position. 

“Ruturaj has been with us for a considerable time. His temperament is excellent; he remains calm and composed. These qualities were key factors in our decision to consider him for the leadership role,” Dhoni stated during an interview with JioHotstar.

The 43-year-old emphasized his intention to minimize his involvement in decision-making, informing Gaikwad prior to IPL 2024 that he would strive to allow him the autonomy to make significant decisions.

“Before the tournament commenced, I told him, 'If I offer you advice, it doesn't mean you are obligated to follow it. I will do my best to stay out of your way,’” he remarked.

‘MS Dhoni ends speculations…’

Despite this, many observers labelled Gaikwad as a nominal captain last season, noting Dhoni's frequent adjustments to field placements from behind the stumps.

The iconic wicketkeeper clarified that Gaikwad was responsible for 99 per cent of the decisions, including bowling changes and field placements, while he merely provided assistance by making minor adjustments.

“Throughout the season, there were numerous speculations that I was the one making decisions behind the scenes. However, the reality is that he was in charge of 99 per cent of the decisions. The crucial calls—bowling changes and field placements—were all his responsibility. I was simply there to support him. He did an outstanding job managing the players,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, CSK had a winning start to the 2025 campaign with a crucial win over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at Chepauk on Sunday. The hosts put up a clinical show and outclassed Suryakumar Yadav and Co. in all three departments to collect two crucial points in their first game of the tournament.

Read Also: "I Want Dhoni to Smash You": Rohit Sharma's Baffling Advice to MI Youngster

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!