Dhoni to lead Chennai for rest of season after Gaikwad ruled out injured

Ruturaj Gaikwad suffers the injury during Chennai's game against Rajasthan Royals

Indian Premier League - IPL - Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Capitals - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India - April 5, 2025 Chennai Super Kings' MS Dhoni in action REUTERS/Stringer

MS Dhoni will captain the Chennai Super Kings for the rest of the 2025 Indian Premier League season after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the campaign due to a hairline fracture of the elbow, the team announced on Thursday.

Dhoni, 43, had been Chennai's skipper for 14 seasons since the start of the IPL in 2008, barring the period between 2016-2017 when the team was suspended. But the veteran wicketkeeper handed over the captaincy to Gaikwad last year.

Gaikwad suffered the injury during Chennai's game against Rajasthan Royals when he was struck on the elbow while batting but went on to score 63 runs. He also played the next two games against Delhi and Punjab.

The five-time IPL champions have had a poor start to the season to sit ninth out of 10 teams after losing four of their first five matches.

Chennai's next game is at home to Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.