Dhoni, 43, to captain Chennai after Gaikwad injury

MS Dhoni will lead Chennai Super Kings for the remainder of the Indian Premier League season after Ruturaj Gaikwad sustained an elbow injury.

The 43-year-old returns to captain the side he led between 2008 and 2024, taking the franchise to five IPL titles.

There has been speculation in recent days that Dhoni might retire after his parents attended Saturday's defeat by Delhi Capitals.

But he will now take charge of a side who have lost four and won one of their opening five matches, sitting ninth in the 10-team table.

The veteran wicketkeeper is averaging 51.50 with the bat this campaign, largely thanks to three innings where he finished unbeaten, and he has two top scores of 30 at a strike-rate of 153.73.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has said that Dhoni, once known as one of the game's great finishers, now "can't bat for 10 overs" because of problems with his knees.

"He will gauge on the day what he can give us," said Fleming.

"If the game's in the balance, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up.

"He's too valuable and leadership wise to throw him in after nine or 10 overs."

Dhoni retired from India duty in 2020, having played 90 Tests, 350 one-day internationals and 98 T20s.

He hit the winning runs in India's 2011 World Cup victory at home and also led his side to wins in the 2007 T20 world title and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Since then he has continued to play for CSK in the IPL and led them to the title for a fifth time in 2023.

Gaikwad was struck on the elbow by Tushar Deshpande while batting against Rajasthan Royals on 30 March, but he carried on to score 63 in that match.

The 28-year-old has made single figure scores in his two subsequent outings and has now been ruled out for the rest of the season.