MS Dhoni returns as CSK captain for IPL 2025 after Gaikwad injury blow

MS Dhoni will captain CSK for the remainder of IPL 2025 after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the tournament with an elbow fracture.

Head Coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the development on Thursday (April 10), the eve of the team's home game against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gaikwad, 28, sustained a blow to his elbow while facing Tushar Deshpande in CSK's clash against Rajasthan Royals on March 30. Though he featured in the next two games, against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, scans have now confirmed a fracture.

The injury is a major setback for the five-time winners, who have lost four of their first five matches and sit ninth in the standings. With Gaikwad out, they lose a key figure in an already misfiring top order. Notably, he also has been CSK's leading run-scorer in three of the last four seasons.

Gaikwad's injury setback means 43-year-old Dhoni will return as CSK captain, reclaiming a role he's held for the majority of the franchise's storied history. He briefly handed over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022, only to take charge again midway through a turbulent season. Dhoni stepped aside once more before the 2024 season, but now finds himself back at the helm, tasked with reviving CSK's faltering 2025 campaign.

In all, Dhoni has captained CSK in 235 of their 268 matches, guiding them to an unmatched level of consistency and success. Under his leadership, CSK clinched five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and two Champions League T20 trophies. Remarkably, the team finished outside the top four in just two IPL seasons – 2020 and 2022 – while reaching the final on 10 occasions, including four years in a row from 2010 to 2013.