Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha believes Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will have to look for a new captain if MS Dhoni retires from the IPL next season.
“Until MS Dhoni is there, there can’t be a different skipper. I would have given Kane Williamson’s name as the team needs a player who can continue for 5-6 years and bring stability to the team. This could be MS Dhoni’s last season, and the franchise will have to prepare for the new leader in advance,” he said.
There is a possibility of CSK going for Kane Williamson in the auction as he hasn’t been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad and is one player who is available for the whole season.
CSK failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs last season. Picked as Dhoni’s successor, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja couldn’t perform and left the captaincy mid-way, forcing Dhoni to return as a captain.
The Chennai-based franchise has not retained Dwayne Bravo and even let go of England’s death-overs specialist Chris Jordan.
“It is not easy to release players as CSK believe in a long-term association. However, you have to take hard calls at times,” CSK chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan said.