Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
In a huge development in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the defending champions Chennai Super Kings have confirmed that captain Ravindra Jadeja will hand over the captaincy back to MS Dhoni midway through the season. The same was conveyed by the franchise in an official release which said that Jadeja wanted to focus on his game.
"MS Dhoni has accepted to lead CSK in the larger interest and to allow Jadeja to focus on his game," the release from the Men in Yellow confirmed.
It is pertinent to note that Jadeja hasn't been able to get going in the 8 matches in IPL 2022. The left-hander, who was announced as the skipper days before the start of the 15th edition of the tournament, has managed to accumulate 112 runs from 8 innings at an average of 22.40 and a strike rate of 121.73.
Moreover, Jadeja hasn't been effective with the ball either, managing 5 wickets in 8 innings, averaging 42.60 and going at over 8 runs and over on an average. In fact, the Saurashtra all-rounder who is widely recognised as one of the best fielders in India has even been guilty of dropping a few easy chances from his own high standards.
Apart from his personal struggle with form, his leadership hasn't been inspirational either with the team reeling at the ninth position on the points table with just two wins in eight matches.
The development essentially means that 40-year-old Dhoni will be back at the helm of affairs at CSK and will be seen at the toss alongside Kane Williamson during Chennai's encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday. Dhoni has not only the most successful leader of the team leading them to six titles (4 IPLs and 2 Champions Trophy), but is among the best in the history of the tournament.
The team's decision to go ahead with Jadeja as Dhoni's successor was being frowned upon by many as Jaddu had no prior leadership experience with his only captaincy stint coming at the U-19 level for a series. With Jadeja opting to focus on his game, CSK will have to set in a new succession plan and be ready for the time their stalwart leader decides to call it a day.
Meanwhile, Dhoni personally has had a better season with the bat compared to the last couple of ones, having registered an unbeaten half-century in the first match and scoring 16 off the final 4 balls against Mumbai Indians to finish off the game.
