Defending champion Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK) introduced on Thursday, the eve of its IPL 2024 opener towards Royal Challengers Bengaluru (beforehand Royal Challengers Bangalore), that MS Dhoni might be stepping down as captain, handing over the cost to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Dhoni’s resolution opens up a lot of mixtures which the five-time champion can go for with its beginning lineup. On condition that the 42-year-old batted principally on the loss of life final season, it’s probably he might be used as an Influence Participant in 2024 for exactly that position.
READ | MS DHONI WIN/LOSS RECORD AS CSK CAPTAIN IN IPL
He confronted simply 57 deliveries within the 16 video games in 2023, scoring 104 runs at a strike fee of greater than 182.
CSK has solely three wicketkeepers in its squad – Dhoni, Devon Conway and Avanish Rao Aravelly. Since Conway is injured and Avanish lacks expertise, Dhoni ought to stay the first-choice keeper for the facet. This may additionally give him the prospect to groom the brand new captain Gaikwad on the sphere.
In case CSK bats first, it may begin with out Dhoni within the taking part in eleven. If the state of affairs calls for for pinch-hitting on the loss of life, Dhoni could be swapped in for a dismissed batter. If not, he can step in on the innings break and preserve wickets within the second innings. CSK has all-rounders Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube and Daryl Mitchell, and never getting in a specialist bowler wouldn’t pinch the facet.
However, if CSK fields within the first innings, Dhoni can begin within the eleven. The Influence Participant can then be decided relying on how CSK is positioned within the run chase. The Tremendous Kings have choices in Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi and Shaik Rasheed who can step in as pure batters within the center order.
Dhoni’s restricted gametime as a batter final season was largely as a consequence of a knee downside. Nevertheless, having undergone a surgical procedure forward of the 2024 season, he may slot into the lineup as a pure batter.
CSK Potential Lineups
Bat 1st: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana.
Influence Participant: IN – MS Dhoni | OUT – Ajinkya Rahane/Sameer Rizvi
Bowl 1st: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana.
Influence Participant: IN – Ajinkya Rahane/Shaik Rasheed/Sameer Rizvi | OUT – MS Dhoni