'He Can Always Pull Out His Magic And...': Ambati Rayudu Excited For MS Dhoni's Return As CSK Captain
MS Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings in the remainder of the IPL 2025 season after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament on Thursday due to an elbow fracture.
Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu, who has now donned the hat of an expert and commentator, is excited to see MS Dhoni return as Chennai Super Kings captain. The 43-year-old wicketkeeper-batter on Thursday (April 10) was announced as CSK captain for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out due to an injury. The 28-year-old right-handed batter, according to CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, will miss the remaining matches due to an elbow fracture.
According to Rayudu, who was part of the CSK set-up in the IPL from 2018 to 2023 and won three titles under Dhoni’s leadership, it’s sad that Gaikwad is out of IPL 2025, but all the fans will be excited to see Dhoni return as captain.
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“First of all, it’s very sad that Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of CSK, has been ruled out of the IPL. But all the fans definitely will be extremely excited to see MS Dhoni lead CSK again. And he can always pull out his magic and make CSK qualify from here. It will be one great story. So I am very, very excited, and I just hope that he weaves his magic all over CSK," Rayudu said in a video posted by ESPN Cricinfo on X.
‘Uncapped player to take over captaincy’
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming attended the press conference in Chennai on Thursday and confirmed the news of Ruturaj’s injury and Dhoni’s appointment.
“We have an uncapped player, MS Dhoni, who will take over as captain for the remainder of the IPL," Fleming said.
According to Fleming, who has won five IPL titles as CSK head coach, Gaikwad sustained the blow when he was hit by a short ball from Jofra Archer on March 30, and since then he has played two games.
“He got hit in Guwahati (vs RR). He’s been operating with an amount of pain. We got an X-ray, which was inconclusive, and we had an MRI, which revealed a fracture in his elbow, in the radial neck," Fleming said.
While Gaikwad played through pain against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, the CSK medical team could only get his MRI done after the swelling subsided.
“So we’re disappointed and feel for him. We appreciate the efforts that he’s gone to in terms of trying to play, but, he will be out of the tournament."
The head coach also said that Gaikwad wanted to “continue" but the call to replace him had to be made.
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