'CSK captain' Ruturaj Gaikwad just a puppet? MS Dhoni drops truth bomb

There has been a lot of noise that Ruturaj Gaikwad is the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain only on paper, and the former skipper MS Dhoni still takes all the important decisions. However, MS Dhoni has put an end to speculations about leadership at CSK.

The legendary cricketer made it clear that he shares his inputs, but Gaikwad is making 99% of the decisions on the field. Dhoni explained that as a wicketkeeper, he naturally remains involved in the game and may offer insights, but it doesn’t mean they have to be followed.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was making 99 percent of the decisions: MS Dhoni clears the air

The five-time IPL-winning captain clarified that his role is simply to guide when needed, but the responsibility for strategy, bowling changes, and field placements rests entirely with Gaikwad. He also reiterated that Gaikwad takes "99 percent" of the calls and is fully in charge of leading CSK.

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Speaking in an interview with JioHotstar, MS Dhoni said, “Before the start of the tournament, I also told him, 'If I give you advice, it doesn't mean you have to follow it. I will try to stay away as much as possible. During the season, a lot of people speculated that I was making the decisions in the background.

But the fact is, he was making 99 percent of the decisions. The most important calls—bowling changes and field placements—were all his. I was just helping him out. He did a brilliant job of handling the players.”

MS Dhoni reveals why CSK chose Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain

The former Indian skipper also revealed why Gaikwad was selected as the captain for Chennai Super Kings after he stepped down just before the start of the last season. The legendary cricketer explained that they look at the long-term picture and the batters are the best options for captaincy for a longer period, as the fast bowlers have the tendency to very often get injured.

Dhoni added, “Ruturaj has been part of us for quite some time. He has done well for us. His temperament is very good; he’s very calm and very composed. His temperament is very good; he's very calm and very composed. So those were the reasons we considered him for leadership. He and Flem (CSK head coach Stephen Fleming) get along very well. So those were the reasons.”

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The former CSK captain said it is now up to Gaikwad to justify their call. Dhoni added that CSK gave Ruturaj a chance to prove himself as a captain, as not everybody is comfortable leading. But the legendary wicketkeeper noted that CSK was confident that he would do a good job for them.

MS Dhoni's captaincy record for CSK in the IPL

Notably, Dhoni captained CSK in 212 matches, with a record of 128 wins and 82 losses in the IPL. Under Dhoni’s leadership, CSK achieved marvelous success, winning five IPL titles. However, under Gaikwad’s captaincy, the Chennai franchise failed to make it to the playoffs last season.

However, the Chennai Super Kings made a winning start in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. They defeated the Mumbai Indians by four wickets in their season opener on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where they will next host the RCB on March 28.