Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanathan has shed light on discussions regarding a succession plan within the franchise, particularly concerning the captaincy role, but emphasized owner N Srinivasan’s directive regarding MS Dhoni’s successor.
While CSK gears up for IPL 2024 under Dhoni’s leadership, the franchise is also contemplating identifying a future captaincy prospect amidst speculations about Dhoni’s tenure in the T20 tournament.
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MS Dhoni, who dispelled retirement rumors last year, remains committed to leading CSK for at least another season, considering it a gesture of gratitude towards the fans. Despite grappling with a knee injury during the previous season, Dhoni spearheaded CSK to their fifth IPL title, undergoing surgery and rigorous rehabilitation to ensure his fitness for the upcoming campaign.
With Dhoni at the helm, CSK commenced their training sessions at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, set to host the IPL 2024 season opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore next Friday.
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Regarding the captaincy succession, Viswanathan stated, “There have been internal talks. But, Mr. Srinivasan has made it very clear. Let’s not talk about captain and vice-captain appointments. Let’s leave it to the coach and the captain to decide.”
Notably, CSK entrusted the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja at the beginning of IPL 2022. However, after a string of unsatisfactory results, Jadeja stepped down, reinstating Dhoni as the captain.
Reflecting on Dhoni’s leadership and CSK’s aspirations for the new season, Viswanathan shared, “We have always focused on qualifying for the knockouts. That’s our first aim. After that, it depends on the performance on that day.”
Dhoni’s mantra, according to Viswanathan, is to concentrate on league games initially and aim for qualification to the knockout stages, leveraging the team’s consistency and experience to handle pressure situations effectively.