NEW DELHI: The legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday officially passed on the captaincy baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad on the eve of the IPL 2024 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Gaikwad, who has played six ODIs and 19 T20Is for India, debuted for CSK in 2020 and has since played 52 matches for the franchise.
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The stylish opener had a stellar performance last year, amassing 590 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 147.50. His breakthrough year came in 2021 when he scored 635 runs in 16 matches.
Hailing from Maharashtra, the 27-year-old is no stranger to leadership, having led the Indian team to a gold medal in the Asian Games last year.
1/8:IPL 2024: CSK eye strong start against RCB
Agencies
2/8:New captaincy era begins
A new dawn for the defending champions Chennai Super Kings with iconic MS Dhoni handing over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.ANI
3/8:CSK's legacy and expectations
Chennai Super Kings are five-time champions, and a sixth title will put them in a space where no team has entered so far.PTI
4/8:RCB's batting challenges
Skipper Faf du Plessis and star batter Virat Kohli, who is returning to competitive cricket after a two-month break, will once again have to shoulder the batting responsibility.AP
5/8:All-rounders, spinners key for CSK
It's the presence of a clutch of all-rounders and spinners who can use the abrasive Chidambaram Stadium pitch to the hilt.Agencies
6/8:CSK's bowling strengths
The CSK also have two wily domestic campaigners in pacers Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur.Agencies
7/8:RCB's pace and skills mix
RCB have a mix of extreme pace and skills in the fast bowling unit through Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, Akash Deep and Reece Topley.PTI
8/8:Key players to watch
Players like Glenn Maxwell (RCB) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) hold the key to success for the two teams.PTIWhile Dhoni officially retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020, he continues to grace the IPL arena.
Grappling with a troublesome knee last season, the 42-year-old underwent surgery after steering CSK to their fifth title.
Dhoni, a guiding force behind India's triumph in three ICC tournaments, boasts an impressive IPL record, having featured in 250 matches and scored over 5000 runs at a strike rate of 135.92.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
As the five-time champions CSK prepare to take on RCB on Friday, let's have a look at the head-to-head stats between the two teams:
The two teams have clashed 31 times, with CSK holding the advantage. CSK have emerged victorious in 20 matches, while RCB have won 10, with one match ending in no result.
In their last five encounters, CSK have dominated with a 4-1 lead.
At Chepauk, the teams have crossed paths in eight matches, and it has been a stronghold for the home team. CSK have triumphed in seven matches against RCB at their home ground.
WEATHER REPORT:
According to the most recent weather forecast, there is an expectation of no rainfall during the evening and night of the match, particularly from 7 pm to 11 pm IST.
Pic credit: Weather.com
