Who will replace MS Dhoni as Chennai Super Kings’ skipper? This is one question that has concerned not only the franchise but the entire Indian cricket fraternity for quite some time now.
The legendary cricketer is the only player in IPL who has been leading a franchise since the inaugural season in 2008. He briefly gave up captaincy in IPL 2022 but was re-appointed after Ravindra Jadeja failed to deliver as captain.
MS Dhoni has been leading CSK since 2008 and is one of the most successful and decorated captains in the history of IPL. He has led the franchise to 4 IPL titles so far as well as two titles in now-defunct Champions League T20 competition. Under his captaincy, CSK have also finished runners-up on a record 5 occasions and have failed to make it to the playoffs just twice.
Ben Stokes to replace MS Dhoni:
There is absolutely no denying that MS Dhoni’s days as a cricketer are numbered. Having retired from international cricket in 2020, he does not play domestic cricket and only plays in the IPL. It would not be very surprising if he decides to hang up his boots after the upcoming edition.
And while only time will tell who replaces him as the CSK captain, the Indian Express has reported that Ben Stokes looks the likeliest of candidate. In December, CSK went all out to secure his services during the IPL mini-auction. The Chennai-based outfit signed Ben Stokes up for a whopping amount of Rs 16.25 crore.
The report stated that the sort of welcome Ben Stokes has received from the CSK camp and the fans, it is quite clear that he is seen by many as the next captain. During a recent training session at the Chepauk, the fans started to chant ‘Ben Stokes’ after cheering for Dhoni.
“That call is for Dhoni to take and we have left to his choice. Our role as always ends with assembling the team that Dhoni asks for and we are a team that is always process oriented. And that process has started since the time the players landed in the city on March 2 for the preparatory camp,” the news outlet quoted a CSK official as saying.
The report further stated that ‘the leadership signs are already there to see, especially on CSK’s social media handles where Stokes is already being billed as the ‘Chosen one’ with hit numbers from Tamil movies playing in the backdrop’.
Going Ballistic! ?⚔️#WhistlePodu #Yellove ?? @imjadeja @benstokes38 pic.twitter.com/IZ0QjqNPXd
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 26, 2023
Stokes was reportedly top on Dhoni’s wish-list for the auction in December. Having already got acquainted with Stokes during their tenure with Rising Pune Supergiants, Dhoni and head coach Stephen Fleming have been long admirers of the Englishman. Stokes’ performance as England’s Test captain has also improved his case.
Also Read: IPL 2023: They Will Not Reach Playoffs This Season: Aaron Finch Makes Prediction About Franchise