Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu believes that MS Dhoni may utilize the impact player rule during the upcoming IPL 2024 to hand over captaincy duties in the middle overs.
Rayudu feels this strategic move could serve to groom a new leader for the five-time champions, CSK, as Dhoni is likely to retire at the end of the upcoming season, resulting in CSK inevitably needing to identify and nurture a successor for the next IPL season.
Notably, CSK had entrusted the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022, but he relinquished the role midway through the tournament due to a string of defeats, and Dhoni was once again handed the captaincy, and he guided them to their fifth IPL title in 2023.
Ambati Rayudu told Star Sports Press Room: “With the Impact Player rule, he (Dhoni) can take a back seat and promote someone to captain their side in the middle (overs). So, this year might be a transition year for CSK. If it's his last year, if he decides to play for a few more years, I think he would be the captain. I would personally like to see him as a captain.”
Rayudu also reckoned that Dhoni is unlikely to promote himself up the order in the upcoming IPL 2024. He explained, “With Dhoni bhai you never know, but knowing him and what's happened in the last few seasons, I doubt that he would really promote himself up the order and he would promote a youngster there because (New Zealand's Devon) Conway is injured. I'm sure with his batting he may promote himself one or two up, but not in the top order.”
Speaking about his commitment to CSK, Rayudu said: “I think if he has decided to play this season and if he is even 10 percent fit, he will definitely play the full season and knowing him, injury will not keep him out of the game and he has played through many injuries.”
Rayudu signed off by saying, “Even during the last season, he was playing with a very bad knee injury. So, I don't think anything will stop him from playing full season. He (Dhoni) observes the team, and the players and how they are going about, who is ready, who is not ready, then he fills up his 12-13 players quietly and he keeps them constant for the whole season.”
(With PTI Inputs)
