Chennai, April 10 – Chennai Super Kings suffered a major setback in their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign after captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament with an elbow fracture, the franchise confirmed on Thursday.
Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mahendra Singh Dhoni will take over the captaincy duties for the remainder of the season, marking a return to the role he previously held for over a decade. “Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of IPL with fracture on elbow. MS Dhoni to take over as captain,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming told reporters.
Gaikwad, 28, sustained the injury after being struck on the elbow by a rising delivery from England pacer Jofra Archer during CSK’s last match. The opener was immediately taken off the field and subsequent scans confirmed a fracture, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
The setback comes at a crucial juncture for CSK, who are aiming to secure a playoff berth under the leadership of the young opener, who was appointed captain ahead of the 2025 season. Dhoni, 43, had stepped down from the captaincy after leading CSK to five IPL titles. He now returns to the helm amid mounting pressure on the squad following inconsistent performances this season.
The development is likely to stir excitement among fans, many of whom had speculated that Dhoni’s final IPL campaign in 2023 was his last as skipper. CSK are scheduled to play their next fixture against the Mumbai Indians this weekend. The team currently sits mid-table with several key matches remaining in the group stage.
