Ex-Batter Criticizes CSK Over Dhoni’s Situation and Gaikwad’s Captaincy
Ex-Batter Criticizes CSK Over Dhoni’s Situation and Gaikwad’s Captaincy
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play their final game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season on Thursday, facing off against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium. While the team needs a massive win to potentially move up to fourth in the points table, they are also dealing with criticism from former player Subramaniam Badrinath over the handling of MS Dhoni‘s injury and the appointment of Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain.
Dhoni’s Injury Saga
MS Dhoni has not played this season due to injuries and is not traveling with the squad to Ahmedabad. The 44-year-old was seen in Chennai posing for the team photo during the half-time break in the CSK vs SRH clash, but the situation surrounding his injury has been shrouded in mystery. Badrinath, a former India and CSK batter, has questioned the team’s handling of the situation, stating that “there were constant questions about MS Dhoni’s playing status. The entire situation wasn’t handled well by the team, and nobody knows the real reason behind this. One has to wonder if this was done to create interest for the match or was it due to a business decision.”
Appointment of Ruturaj Gaikwad as Captain
Badrinath also questioned the appointment of Ruturaj Gaikwad as the team skipper, wondering if MS Dhoni had any input in the decision. “It is not known if MS wanted Gaikwad as the next skipper. Dhoni could have only given a few suggestions, but at the end of the day, it is the management’s decision. So, it is up to the team management to take responsibility,” he said. The former batter also claimed that Dhoni would have preferred Ravindra Jadeja as the captain instead of Gaikwad.
Previous Captaincy Decisions
In 2022, the decision to appoint Jadeja as captain did not go down well, as the team had a bad start to the season. The role of leading the side was handed back to Dhoni, who repaid the faith by winning the team their fifth title in 2023. Ahead of the 2026 season, Jadeja was traded to the Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson. Recently, Manoj Tiwary also voiced concerns over Chennai’s captaincy, suggesting that the side should give Samson the captaincy for the 2027 season.
The CSK will be looking to end their season on a high note, but the criticism from Badrinath has added to the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future. With the IPL season coming to a close, the team will need to regroup and reassess their strategy for the upcoming seasons.
