Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major setback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad being ruled out for the rest of the season due to an elbow fracture.
Gaikwad sustained the injury during an earlier match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) when a delivery from pacer Tushar Deshpande struck him on the elbow. Despite playing two more games after the incident, the injury has now forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the tournament.
MS Dhoni to Captain CSK in Gaikwad’s Absence
In a dramatic turn of events, five-time IPL champion MS Dhoni will once again take charge of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, following Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury. Dhoni, who had passed on the captaincy to Gaikwad ahead of the 2024 season, will return to the helm after CSK confirmed Gaikwad’s unavailability.
The franchise made the announcement on their official X (formerly Twitter) handle:
“Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the season due to a hairline fracture of the elbow. MS DHONI TO LEAD. GET WELL SOON, RUTU!”
🚨 OFFICIAL STATEMENT 🚨
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 10, 2025
Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the season due to a hairline fracture of the elbow.
MS DHONI TO LEAD. 🦁
GET WELL SOON, RUTU ! ✨ 💛#WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/U0NsVhKlny
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed during a press conference that Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the tournament, with MS Dhoni set to lead the team for the remaining matches.
“We’re disappointed and feel for him,” Fleming said. “He did everything he could to be available, but unfortunately, he won’t be part of the tournament moving forward. We have an uncapped player, MS Dhoni, who will now captain the side for the rest of the IPL
Fleming has confirmed that Ruturaj Gaikwad is ruled out of IPL 2025 🥲🥲 pic.twitter.com/a1UicAZ6uB
— VIREN (@virendrareshmi) April 10, 2025
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the CSK camp has seen a mid-season leadership change. Ahead of IPL 2022, Dhoni had stepped down as captain just two days before the tournament began, passing the responsibility to Ravindra Jadeja. However, midway through the season, Jadeja relinquished the role, with Dhoni once again taking charge for the remainder of the matches. Following his departure from captaincy, Jadeja was later ruled out of the tournament due to a rib injury.