Ravindra Jadeja will lead Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming IPL 2022, after MS Dhoni, who has led the team since the first season of the tournament, in 2008 – bar the two years when the team was banned – announced his decision to step down from the leadership position. In a statement, the franchise said that “Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond”.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan said that Dhoni wanted the leadership “transition to be smooth” and felt Jadeja was ready to take up the mantle for the team, which won its fourth IPL title last year. Viswanathan said that Dhoni had announced the decision on Thursday at the team meeting before the squad left for training – the defending champions will play the tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
“MS Dhoni was thinking about it,” Viswanathan said. “He felt it is the right time to hand over captaincy to Jaddu [Jadeja]. He feels Jaddu is also in prime form of his career and it is the ideal time for him lead CSK. What will be good for the franchise must be [in the] back of his mind.”
Jadeja, who has been with the franchise since 2012, will become the third player to lead the Super Kings side, after Dhoni and Suresh Raina.
Speaking to the Super Kings’ social media team, Jadeja said, “Feeling good. At the same time, I also need to fill in big boots like Mahi bhai, [he] has already set the big legacy so I need to carry [that] forward. I don’t need to worry too much because he is here so whatever I have a question to ask, I’ll definitely go to him. He’ll be my go-to person. He was and still he is today, so I’m not worried too much.”
