MS Dhoni actually got sacked? CSK CEO breaks silence on matter ahead of IPL 2024

On Thursday, March 21, it was officially confirmed that the legendary captain and wicketkeeper-batsman, MS Dhoni, will no longer be captaining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The shocking announcement was made by the franchise a day before the IPL 2024 begins. In the opening match of the competition, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Chennai on March 22.

From now onwards the star opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad will be seen leading the 5-time champions – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – in the league. MS Dhoni will finish his captaincy career as the most successful skipper in the history of the competition.

MS Dhoni, who led CSK to 5 IPL titles, played 226 matches as captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) out of which he won 133 and lost 91 matches. Also, he is the only skipper to play over 200 matches and win over 100 matches as IPL captain.

After it was confirmed via the official social media handles of IPL that Ruturaj Gaikwad will be leading the franchise in the upcoming season, the fans on X started speculating that the CSK franchise has sacked MS Dhoni. The word “sacked” became a top trend on the platform and here are some of the reactions from fans:

Dhoni got sacked via a Twitter post 💔🙁 p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->7<!---->B<!---->m<!---->E<!---->V<!---->F<!---->j<!---->E<!---->W<!---->7

— Honest Dhoni Fan💛💛 (@WhistlePoduCsk7) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

MS Dhoni sacked from CSK captaincy….

Thala fans RN : p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->v<!---->w<!---->0<!---->3<!---->D<!---->x<!---->C<!---->W<!---->H<!---->K

— UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Rohit Sharma got sacked for Hardik Pandya

Dhoni is now the only captain in the IPL to get sacked thrice

We weren't not sacked by captaincy from IPL 😎

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— 𝘿  (@DilipVK18) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Mumbai Indians sacked Rohit as captain for IPL 2024
CSK sacked MS dhoni from captaincy for IPL 2024

Meanwhile RCB never disrespected or sacked their main players kohli and ABD, When you are big, you are big. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->5<!---->R<!---->2<!---->p<!---->O<!---->v<!---->j<!---->J<!---->W<!---->c

— Kevin (@imkevin149) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

– Dhoni got sacked twice in IPL
– Rohit Sharma got sacked for Hardik Pandya
We never got sacked from IPL 😎👑. p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->v<!---->i<!---->h<!---->D<!---->Y<!---->6<!---->C<!---->F<!---->4<!---->k

— M. (@IconicKohIi) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

Unlike the 3 others we didn't get sacked by our own franchise. Gambhirfc keeps winning p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->0<!---->b<!---->Q<!---->u<!---->r<!---->G<!---->K<!---->6<!---->X<!---->E

— babu bisleri (@baabuOP) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

We never played under any junior and got sacked 🦁☝🏻@<!---->G<!---->a<!---->u<!---->t<!---->a<!---->m<!---->G<!---->a<!---->m<!---->b<!---->h<!---->i<!---->r Supremacy p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->I<!---->S<!---->o<!---->K<!---->1<!---->y<!---->A<!---->0<!---->o<!---->F

— Aditya (@switch_hit18) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->4

CSK CEO Opens Up On MS Dhoni Quietly Stepping Down From Captaincy Before IPL 2024

As the fans were trolling MS Dhoni for getting sacked, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), issued an official media release to inform about the matter. The franchise clearly mentioned that Dhoni has not been sacked, instead, he has himself decided to hand over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.

“MS Dhoni has handed over Chennai Super Kings’ captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the start of TATA 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,” the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) said in an official media release.

Meanwhile, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan also broke his silence on the matter and revealed that he was informed about Dhoni stepping down as captain just before the IPL captains’ meeting. He added that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman made the decision in the best interest of the team.

“Whatever Dhoni does, it is in the best interest of the team. I got to know of the decision just before the captains’ meeting. You have to respect his decision, it is his call,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan told PTI.

Viswanathan also admitted that the captaincy switch didn’t work out last time at CSK, but was optimistic of things going well this time around.

“That captaincy transition (Ravindra Jadeja) did not work out but this is different,” CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan added.

Notably, ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, MS Dhoni handed over the captaincy to star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to take things forward. The all-rounder looked completely off-color after becoming the captain and his performance went downhill. Dhoni was forced to take over as captain in the middle of the season and in the next edition of IPL he even guided his team to their 5th IPL championship by beating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final.