IPL 2022: MS Dhoni hands over CSK captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is the new Chennai Super Kings captain. He takes over captaincy of the second most successful IPL team from the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. "MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team," CSK said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement clearly indicates that it was Dhoni who picked Jadeja to be his successor. Jadeja too has been with CSK for a long time, having joined the yellow brigade in 2012 for approximately Rs 9.8 Crore, which made him the most expensive buy of that auction. Jadeja was retained for Rs 16 Crore by CSK ahead of the last player auction. "Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK. Dhoni will continue to represent Chennai Super Kings this season and beyond," the CSK statement further read.

Dhoni has been leading the four time IPL champions - CSK since the inaugural edition in 2008. Dhoni, who is also affectionately called Thala (the leader), a name given to him by the CSK fans, has won four IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, and 202. He is the second-most successful skipper in IPL history. Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians captain, is on top of the list with 5 titles. CSK won their fourth title last season in 2021, beating the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Over the years, CSK and MS Dhoni have become synonymous with each other and Dhoni enjoys a huge fan following in Tamil Nadu thanks to his long association with CSK. The only two seasons that Dhoni didn't turn up for CSK were the two seasons the franchise was suspended for. CSK will open their IPL 2022 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 26. Dhoni had announced his