MS Dhoni back as CSK captain as Ravindra Jadeja resigns after 8 games

In a surprise move on Saturday (April 30), MS Dhoni was handed back the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after Ravindra Jadeja stepped down just eight matches into the ongoing IPL.

Ahead of the IPL 2022 season on March 24, CSK had named Jadeja as the captain of the team following Dhoni’s decision to relinquish the position. However, after six losses in eight games in the ongoing Twenty20 tournament, Dhoni is back at the helm.

Also read: Jadeja bows down to Dhoni

Dhoni, who has retired from international cricket, was CSK’s captain since the first season of IPL in 2008. He led the side to four IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021).

“MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK. Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond,” the franchise had said on March 24.

Watch: The rise and rise of ‘Thala’ Dhoni

Now, according to the franchise, Jadeja resigned from the post to concentrate on his game.

“Ravindra Jadeja has decided to relinquish captaincy to focus and concentrate more on his game & has requested MS Dhoni to lead CSK. MS Dhoni has accepted to lead CSK in the larger interest & to allow Jadeja to focus on his game,” CSK said in a statement.

CSK is currently in the ninth position in the IPL points table with two wins. Jadeja, in eight games as captain, has scored 112 runs and taken five wickets.

The team has been struggling to win matches and has been hampered by the absence of paceman Deepak Chahar, who is out of the tournament with an injury.

Dhoni, who will turn 41 this July, has led CSK in 213 Twenty20 matches and won 130 games. Last year, during the IPL 2021 final in Dubai against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he became the first captain in history to lead in 300 T20 matches. Besides CSK, Dhoni has captained the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant.

Jadeja to handover CSK captaincy back to MS Dhoni:Ravindra Jadeja has decided to relinquish captaincy to focus and concentrate more on his game & has requested MS Dhoni to lead CSK. MS Dhoni has accepted to lead CSK in the larger interest & to allow Jadeja to focus on his game.

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 30, 2022