IPL 2022, CSK vs KKR: MS Dhoni still calling the shots for Chennai Super Kings

MS Dhoni is no longer the skipper of Chennai Super Kings. But if Saturday’s Wankhede show is anything to go by, it’s just a technicality, Dhoni is still very much the skipper of CSK. Trying to defend 131, Dhoni, quite clearly was in charge, even though Ravindra Jadeja was hovering close by. Every field change was Dhoni’s call, every instruction to the bowler -- even when coach Stephen Fleming walked into the ground during the break, his discussion was with the man who left captaincy two days ago.

The only call that Jadeja seemed to take on his own was the DRS against Sam Billings and Dhoni didn’t seem to bother too much because the game was virtually gone by then. Jadeja, who hasn’t ever led at the state level also, had said on Thursday that he would look for help from Dhoni while leading CSK. But he knows the world is watching and if he has to harbour any hopes of white-ball captaincy for India, he has to be a little more assertive on the field.

While batting too, Jadeja looked a little uptight as he came in to bat at No. 5. But as Dhoni walked in at No. 7, things seemed to ease quite a bit. It was clear that Dhoni had a plan in place and he seemed to show Jadeja the way.

The decision to relinquish captaincy, though, seemed to have taken the burden off Dhoni the batsman. It’s to be seen whether it gets better from here and how Jadeja uses his predecessor’s acumen for the team’s cause.