Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Kedar Jadhav recently suggested that Ruturaj Gaikwad could become the team’s next captain after MS Dhoni‘s retirement. While Ben Stokes and Ravindra Jadeja are also considered possible candidates for the role, Jadhav highlighted Gaikwad’s consistency and availability as crucial factors in his favour.
After a disappointing IPL 2022 season, CSK have bounced back this year and is in fifth place with four points from four games. Gaikwad has been a key player for the team, scoring 197 runs in four matches with a high score of 92. He also won the Orange Cap in 2021 with 635 runs in 16 matches and is currently fourth in the IPL 2023 Orange Cap race. With his impressive form and consistency, Gaikwad could potentially be a captaincy candidate for CSK in the future.
CSK purchased Stokes this year, and he was seen as a possible successor to Dhoni. However, Jadhav pointed out that Stokes’ availability could be an issue. This year, he would need to perform exceptionally well for the team to be considered for the captaincy role. Meanwhile, Jadeja has already had a stint as captain in IPL 2022, but his poor performance led to him stepping down.
Gaikwad’s form and availability make him a strong contender for the captaincy role after Dhoni’s retirement. However, CSK’s focus, for now, will be on continuing their good form in the current season and challenging for the title.