[WATCH]- “MS Dhoni Must Lead CSK If He’s In The Team”: Sourav Ganguly

Ahead of the speculation in Kolkata surrounding MS Dhoni’s return as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly had already backed the move, stating Dhoni was the ideal candidate to lead. The confirmation came soon after from Chennai, where CSK head coach Stephen Fleming announced Dhoni would take over the captaincy for the remainder of IPL 2025.

“If MS Dhoni has to play for CSK, he must be captain of CSK. Because MS Dhoni the captain is a different beast,” Ganguly said at a promotional event on Thursday.

🚨 #SouravGanguly 🗣️ "If MS Dhoni has to play for CSK, he has to be the captain of CSK. Because MS Dhoni as a captain is a different beast"#MSDhoni to take over as the @ChennaiIPL captain!!@ThumsUpOfficial @msdhoni #Thala #ChennaiSuperKings #Breaking pic.twitter.com/8JVpQeBNru

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 10, 2025

Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Chennai ahead of CSK’s clash with Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk on Friday, Fleming revealed that Ruturaj Gaikwad had been ruled out of the season due to a fracture in his right elbow. With Gaikwad sidelined and having taken over the captaincy last season, MS Dhoni will now return to the leadership role.

Fleming Confirms Gaikwad Ruled Out with Elbow Fracture; Dhoni Returns as CSK Captain

It’s a stroke of bad luck for Gaikwad, who picked up the injury during CSK’s game against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. According to Fleming, he continued playing through the pain in the following two matches against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. However, an MRI later confirmed a fracture.

Sourav Ganguly, clearly unaware of Gaikwad’s injury, made his comments based solely on cricketing merit. When asked whether Dhoni could still turn back the clock, the former India captain said:

“He still has the power to hit sixes. We saw that recently.”

“Obviously, he is 43 years old and we don’t expect to see the MS Dhoni, what I saw in 2005. That’s quite natural. But I think he still got the power to clear (the boundary). I don’t know what he has on his mind. I don’t know what CSK is thinking. I saw him play the other day and he did hit a few sixes. And I think with all his experience, all what he’s achieved, he understands the game as good as anybody. And he will do what is right for CSK.”

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to play their next match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday, April 11, 2025. The game will take place at CSK’s home ground, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

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