Dhoni Steps Down: Before Jadeja, This Cricketer Got CSK Captaincy Once. Know Who And When

While Dhoni has been around for 14 seasons, and led the team in all of them, there has been one more cricketer before Ravindra Jadeja who got the CSK captaincy once.

MS Dhoni steps down as CSK captain passing the baton to Ravindra Jadeja. (File photo)

New Delhi: MS Dhoni on Thursday stepped down as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper, passing the baton to Ravindra Jadeja after leading the team for 14 years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He stepped down as the captain just two days ahead of the commencement of the 15th edition of the showpiece cricketing event.

In a statement, CSK said, "MS Dhoni has decided to hand over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings and picked Ravindra Jadeja to lead the team. Jadeja, who has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings since 2012, will only be the third player to lead CSK."

Dhoni holds a record of being a full-time captain of an IPL team in every season it has played. Taking the CSK reigns in the opening season of the T20 extravaganza in 2008, Dhoni helped CSK win the title four times — in 2010, 2011, 2018 and 2021. Considering the record the CSK holds, the team has been formidable under Dhoni's captaincy.

The "captain cool" led CSK in 204 matches — most by any player in the shortest format of cricket.

The reins have now come in the hands of Jadeja, the all-rounder who is the third skipper of CSK. While Dhoni has been around for 14 seasons and led the team in all of them, there has been another cricketer who got the CSK captaincy once.

Do you remember who was this cricketer who technically became the second CSK captain ever?

It was Suresh Raina, who quit international cricket in 2020. Raina, who had been the deputy to MSD for a decade at CSK, once led the team in the absence of 'Thala' — as Dhoni is fondly known — back in 2010.

Dhoni had a grievous elbow injury and had been advised rest for 10 days. The injury was during their match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Former Kiwis quick Shane Bond's aggressive delivery had left Dhoni injured. Raina being the vice-captain took the reins of the team that played four IPL matches under him. CSK won two of those matches, lost one, and one match ended in a tie.

Raina failed to attract any buyers in the IPL 2022 mega auction and will not be a part of the season getting underway on March 26. Raina, who once captained CSK, batted for the new captain Ravinder Jadeja after the news came out. He said he was "thrilled for my brother".

Absolutely thrilled for my brother. I can't think of anyone better to take over the reins of a franchise we both had grown up in. All the best @imjadeja . It's an exciting phase and I'm sure you will live up to all the expectations and love #yellow #csk #WhistlePodu

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) March 24, 2022

The reigning champions, CSK, will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL opener on Saturday (March 26). Jadeja is going to captain a team for the first time in his senior career.