Finance
Right-handed opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the new captain of Chennai Super Kings ahead of their IPL 2024 season opener against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
“MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of IPL 2024. Ruturaj has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2019 and has played 52 matches in IPL during this period. The team looks forward to the upcoming season,” said the franchise in a statement on its official website.
The tournament also made the announcement of Gaikwad’s appointment as CSK skipper through its social media accounts on Thursday, when he participated in a pre-captains photoshoot and met other teams’ skippers’ too. It will be the first time Pune-based Gaikwad will be the captain in the tournament.
Presenting @ChennaiIPL's Captain – @Ruutu1331 🙌🙌#TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/vt77cWXyBI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024
This will only be just the second time MS Dhoni won’t start an IPL season as skipper of CSK, after Ravindra Jadeja had been the captain in IPL 2022, only for him to be replaced mid-way by the legendary wicketkeeper-batter.
𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞!
The #TATAIPL is here and WE are ready to ROCK & ROLL 🎉🥳🥁
Presenting the 9 captains with PBKS being represented by vice-captain Jitesh Sharma. pic.twitter.com/v3fyo95cWI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 21, 2024
Since making his IPL debut in 2020, Ruturaj has only ever represented the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a player. He has developed into a highly significant figure with unwavering consistency at the top throughout the years, amassing 1797 runs at an average of 39.07 and a strike rate of 135.52 in 52 games. In 2021, he had his finest IPL season with 635 runs at an incredible average of 45.35 over 16 games.
At M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Gaikwad will play his debut IPL 2024 match as captain of CSK against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
