MS Dhoni back as CSK captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s elbow fracture ends his IPL 2025 season

Dhoni steps back into the hot seat as Gaikwad’s season ends abruptly

Chennai Super Kings needed stability. Instead, they lost their captain. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the rest of IPL 2025 with a hairline fracture in his elbow, and MS Dhoni is back as captain for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2023.

Head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the call on the eve of CSK’s home game against Kolkata Knight Riders. The sequence was cruel. Gaikwad took a blow on his unprotected elbow early in the chase against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30, batted through the pain for a gutsy 63, then pushed himself through two more games before the scans told the full story. An initial X-ray was inconclusive; an MRI later revealed a fracture at the radial neck near the elbow. The franchise described it as a hairline fracture and shut the door on any return this season.

That’s a hard one for Chennai to absorb at 1–4 after five matches, ninth on the table and ahead of only Sunrisers Hyderabad. Even in a slow start, Gaikwad was their second-highest run-scorer: 122 runs at a strike rate of 150.61. He had been holding the top order together in patches, switching between anchor and aggressor when needed. Take that out, and you don’t just lose runs—you lose shape.

Fleming praised Gaikwad’s willingness to play through discomfort, but a fracture changes the conversation. Elbow injuries are unforgiving for batters; the joint absorbs shock with every defensive block and every lofted shot. A radial neck fracture typically needs weeks of rest and careful rehab before a return to high-intensity batting is even considered. CSK have opted for the conservative route: no risks, no late-season gambles.

Enter the one man who knows this pressure better than anyone in the league. Dhoni, jokingly introduced by Fleming as an “uncapped player,” returns to a role he made look routine across 16 seasons. He hasn’t captained since 2023, but the leadership muscle memory doesn’t fade. Field placements, bowling changes, and cool calls under the lights at Chepauk—this is his arena.

What changes now? Expect CSK’s approach to tighten, not explode. Dhoni’s captaincy is about squeezing overs, slowing chases with smart fields, and turning par scores into defendable totals. At Chepauk, where the surface can tire, he tends to lean on bowlers who hit lengths into the pitch and spinners who work the middle overs. If dew stays away, he controls the tempo. If dew arrives, he reorders his plans without fuss.

There’s also a selection puzzle at the top. With Gaikwad out, CSK need an opener who can face the hard ball and let the middle order settle. They can either promote from within or rewire the order, sliding a flexible batter up and using the Impact Substitute rule to keep bowling depth. The choice depends on conditions and match-ups—KKR first, then away days that usually test even settled teams.

Dhoni’s own batting role likely remains late and surgical. When he does walk in, he tends to condense his game to high-percentage strokes—small shifts across the crease, deep-in-the-crease swings, and targeting one side of the ground. As captain, though, his larger value is in the 120 deliveries he doesn’t face—dictating match-ups, stealing quiet overs, and pushing the game into phases where Chennai’s experience counts.

What Gaikwad’s absence means, and the road ahead for CSK

Gaikwad’s exit strips CSK of timing at the top. He reads lengths early, rotates the strike, and allows the hitter at the other end to play freer. Without him, the first six overs become less predictable: either CSK take a risk with a powerplay hitter and accept volatility, or they install a steady opener and ask the middle order to take on more risk later. Neither option is wrong; both require clear roles.

The data this season underlines the problem. A single win in five has left CSK chasing the pack. In a 14-game league stage, teams usually need a surge in the last two-thirds to stay alive. Chennai have time, but not much. Three wins on the bounce can flip the mood; another split week could leave them praying for other results.

What will Dhoni target first? Tightening the middle overs with the ball, keeping totals within reach, and protecting the back end against set hitters. KKR bring heavy ball-strikers and a deep order; they’re built to clear the infield even when conditions slow. Chennai’s answer has to be early wickets and angles that force mistakes—wider lines to the big hitters, full and straight to those who plant their front foot.

The second challenge is psychological. Gaikwad is not just a run bank; he’s the calm voice in the dressing room. When a leader goes down mid-season, teams can lose a week to doubt. Dhoni’s presence is the antidote. He doesn’t promise fireworks. He promises order. That’s often enough to stop a slide.

There’s some history working in CSK’s favor. Under Dhoni, they’ve won five IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and qualified for the playoffs more often than not. Even in rebuilding years, they rarely drift. The template—experienced core, clear roles, and smart match-ups—doesn’t need reinvention. It needs execution and a couple of players finding form at the right time.

Medical-wise, the franchise has ruled Gaikwad out conclusively. That helps planning. There’s no waiting for a late clearance, no will-he-won’t-he cloud over the team sheet. He can start rehab without rushing, and the squad can reset around a different batting plan. If there’s a silver lining, it’s the clarity.

CSK’s immediate run matters. One home game, then two away, each with its own headache. KKR at Chepauk is about controlling tempo. Lucknow on April 14 is about handling a surface that can either skid on or grip unpredictably. Mumbai at Wankhede on April 20 usually demands pace-off variations before the death and powerplay discipline with the new ball.

• April 14: Lucknow Super Giants (away)
• April 20: Mumbai Indians (away)

The batting order will determine how Chennai navigate those. A makeshift opener who can handle swing early stops the innings from stalling. A set No. 4 unlocks the chase or rebuilds after a collapse. The finishing role—often Dhoni’s—needs a platform, not a rescue job every night.

For fans, there’s a tug-of-war between nostalgia and reality. Yes, the stadium will roar for the captain. Yes, the sense of control returns the minute he sets a field. But leadership alone doesn’t fix a team that’s underscoring the powerplay or missing lengths at the death. The bigger shift must come from the middle order tightening its shot selection and the bowling unit stacking together 18 good overs instead of 12.

Opponents will aim at the same seam in CSK’s armor: pressure the new opener, attack the first-change bowler, and force Dhoni to bring his trump cards early. The counter is discipline. Bowlers hitting a hard length for longer. Batters resisting the release shot for two more balls. These small choices decide seasons when the margins shrink.

One thing this saga did show: Gaikwad’s pain threshold and commitment. Batting for 63 after a blow to the elbow, then fronting up for two more matches, isn’t theatre—it’s grit. The scans made the decision for him and for CSK. Now, the team has to absorb the loss without letting it define their season.

The transition at the top has happened fast and clean. The badge is back on Dhoni’s arm. The schedule won’t wait. Chennai have a familiar voice in the huddle and a narrow path to walk. If they can turn close games and find a stable opening stand, the table can change in two weeks. If not, the gap might be too wide by the time Gaikwad starts his rehab runs.

For now, the message is simple: reset, simplify, and compete every night. The captain knows how to do that. The next three games will tell us if the rest of the squad can follow.