IPL 2023: Big development in CSK Camp, official finally admits ‘MS Dhoni set to play his last season for the team’: Follow LIVE Updates

IPL 2023: MS Dhoni Retirement – The biggest development in IPL is coming up. Former India skipper MS Dhoni is all set to call it quits at the end of IPL 2023 campaign. While Dhoni hasn’t informed Chennai Super Kings of his decision officially, the understanding in CSK management is that he will play his last IPL match in front home crowd at Chepauk. The CSK management expects Dhoni to officially inform about his decision before the start of IPL. After a three-year absence, IPL returns to home and away format

Speculation about Dhoni’s future has been rife for some time now. It especially came to light when Dhoni handed over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of IPL 2022. However, Jadeja’s captaincy flop show forced Dhoni to take charge back.

However, with Ben Stokes and Ajinkya Rahane two experienced captaincy options, Dhoni can finally breathe a sigh of relief. He will finally call it time on his playing career.

But that brings CSK to the succession problem. CSK have three options in Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane and youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad. While Stokes is the frontrunner, his conditional NOC could be a problem.

England Test captain is unlikely to be available for full duration of IPL every season with his national team commitments. Hence, CSK might look at an Indian option that Stokes and Dhoni can groom for the future. Ruturaj Gaikwad fits the bill perfectly. Gaikwad has already led Maharashtra in domestic cricket and is one for the future.

Who CSK captaincy options?

• Ben Stokes
• Ajinkya Rahane
• Ruturaj Gaikwad

CSK captaincy: Who will succeed MS Dhoni?

• Ruturaj Gaikwad being an Indian player and it makes sense for an IPL franchise to invest heavily in.
• Gaikwad has already led Maharashtra in the domestic circuit.
• With MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes and Ajinkya Rahane beside former NewZealand captain Stephen Fleming around, he will have plenty of inputs.
• With time by his side, CSK will be interested in Ruturaj as the future leader.
• Even though Ben Stokes remains the frontrunner with vast experience and natural leadership traits, his conditional NOC could be a problem.
• With Ben Stokes, CSK face two problems. One is he is a foreign player and the 2nd is that he is an all-rounder.
• Ben Stokes will get a conditional NOC on not bowling in every match.
• Hence, CSK will have to play him as an overseas batter in some games.
• Stokes past injury history may also force CSK to fall back on another player.
• Ajinkya Rahane is also another option but he doesn’t have a guaranteed spot in CSK’s Playing XI and neither he has age by his side.

“Of course, we are very happy getting Ben Stokes. He is not just a match-winner but also a great leader. It’s MS’s call on who he will name his successor. With foreign players leading in IPL, there is always the problem of combination. Plus, all-rounders are always tricky customers to handle. If Ben doesn’t get an NOC next year, it will be a problem. So, one can never rule out a young Ruturaj,” a CSK official earlier told InsideSport.