Ruturaj Gaikwad says 'huge responsibility' to lead CSK, but presence of MS Dhoni, other seniors reassuring

Ruturaj Gaikwad admits he’s been handed a “huge” responsibility of leading five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after MS Dhoni’s decision to step down as skipper, but insists he’s breathing easy at the moment with Dhoni and other seniors such as Ravindra Jadeja around to guide him.

CSK announced Gaikwad as their new captain on the eve of the opening match of IPL 2024, in which the defending champions face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Chennai. The announcement brought the curtains down on Dhoni’s reign as skipper that began in the inaugural edition in 2008, during which the ‘Yellow Army’ won the tournament five times and finished runners-up on as many occasions.

Also Read | Why CSK chose Ruturaj Gaikwad as MS Dhoni’s successor?

Having been part of the the CSK setup since 2019, Gaikwad admits leading the side is going to be a massive challenge.

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“It is a privilege. More than that, it is a huge responsibility but I am really excited because of the kind of group we have. Everyone’s experienced enough so not much of a thing for me to do,” said Gaikwad in a short video posted by CSK on social media.

Dhoni will very much be there to help him in decision-making and as will Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane, who batted at a head-turning strike rate of 172.49 last season.

“Plus I have Mahi bhai in the team, Jaddu bhai and Ajju bhai (Rahane) as well, who has been a great captain, to guide me. So nothing much to worry about. Looking forward to enjoy it,” added the opener.

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Gaikwad, a stylish opener, had a memorable run last year, aggregating 590 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 147.50. His breakout year was 2021 when he amassed 635 runs in 16 games.

The 27-year-old is not new to captaincy, having led the Indian team to the gold medal in the Asian Games last year. He has also led his state side Maharashtra. Gaikwad has also played six ODIs and 19 T20 Internationals.

With PTI inputs