Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly remarked that MS Dhoni's influence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is most significant when he is at the helm of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Ganguly characterized Dhoni as a "different beast" in his leadership role; notably, this comment was made just prior to CSK's official announcement of Dhoni's return as captain for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season.

The decision to change leadership was prompted by an unfortunate injury to the regular captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who suffered a hairline fracture in his elbow. This injury occurred during a match against the Rajasthan Royals, where he was hit on the elbow but continued to play valiantly, scoring 63 runs. Although he participated in subsequent matches against the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, medical evaluations ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

"If MS Dhoni is to play for CSK, he must be the captain of CSK. Because MS Dhoni, as a captain, is a different beast," Ganguly stated just before CSK's announcement, as reported by PTI.

Dhoni’s return to the captaincy comes at a crucial juncture for CSK, who are currently facing the challenge of four consecutive losses. This will also be Dhoni’s first match as captain since leading CSK to their record-equalling fifth title in 2023.

“MS Dhoni can still hit sixes. We witnessed that in the last game. Of course, he is 43 years old, and we do not expect him to perform like the MS Dhoni of 2005. That is quite natural. However, I believe he still possesses the power to clear the boundary and hit,” Ganguly added.

Dhoni returns as captain on Friday

CSK's  The forthcoming match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday at home offers a chance for CSK to turn their fortunes around under Dhoni's guidance.

Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, Dhoni has led CSK for 14 seasons, with the exception of the 2016 and 2017 seasons when the team was suspended. During his tenure, CSK has secured the IPL championship five times, with their latest triumph occurring in 2023.

Dhoni's tactical insight and composed presence have played a crucial role in CSK's sustained success, establishing them as one of the most accomplished franchises in IPL history.

As CSK gears up to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders, both the team and its fans are optimistic that Dhoni's leadership will spark a revival in performance and realign the team's campaign.

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