IPL 2024: Captaincy change was in typical MS Dhoni style, low-key, however, there were some emotions, says CSK coach Stephen Fleming

There is a way of doing things, and then there is Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s way of doing things. Like how he quit as the captain of the Indian Test team and the way he announced his ODI retirement through social media, he handed over the Chennai Super Kings’ leadership baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad - with no fanfare, excitement, and it came as a sudden shock to the cricketing fraternity.

Just minutes before the captain’s meeting ahead of the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni was substituted by Gaikwad. It took time for everyone to understand the move - was Gaikwad just a mere substitute or was he leading the franchise? A statement from CSK confirmed the latter soon.

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said the decision by Dhoni was lowkey and was in typical Dhoni style. “It was very lowkey, typical MS (Dhoni). There were emotions, but quickly the players went into a celebration for Rutu (Ruturaj Gaikwad),” Fleming said at the pre-match press conference.

The coach lauded the timing of Gaikwad’s appointment and said it was Dhoni’s call, and the season would act like a grooming process for the young Maharashtra batter. “It was MS Dhoni's call with a lot of consideration looking at the future. The timing was good. It'll be a grooming process for Ruturaj,” he said.

The CSK coach added that he expects Dhoni to play the entire season of the IPL. “I am expecting MS to play and play well. The body is a lot better than last year with his knee. The desire to play and do well is like always. We admire MS's durability the way he played with one leg last season. He has a sharp mind, he is hitting the ball beautifully at the nets,” Fleming added.

CSK’s CEO Kasi Viswanathan, said he got to know of Dhoni’s decision only at the 11th hour. “I got to know of the decision just before the captains meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call - Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team,” he said.

Viswanathan said Gaikwad might have been aware of the decision and would have had a chat with Dhoni. “I believe that Rutu (Ruturaj) must have been hinted about it in advance. That is the way MS functions. He must have consulted him before deciding to hand over the reins to him,” he added.

While Dhoni has been leading the team since 2008, except for the two years when the franchise was banned due to a spot fixing case, this isn’t the first time a captaincy change has cropped up in CSK. With Dhoni’s prowess as a finisher diminishing and age catching up with him, the CSK management handed over the leadership role to Ravindra Jadeja in the 2022 season, and it did not go down well. CSK were on a downhill run, and Jadeja looked extremely clueless, with Dhoni marshalling the troops as usual. Comparing the two captaincy changes, Viswanathan refused to dwell on them and read too much into them. “That captaincy transition (Ravindra Jadeja) did not work out but this is different. All of Dhoni's decisions are in the best interests of the team,” he added.