'Gaikwad was making 99% decisions,' says Chennai former skipper Dhoni

Former skipper MS Dhoni clarified that all crucial decisions, such as bowling changes and field placements, were solely made by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, with his role being limited to offering guidance following his decision to pass the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captaincy to Gaikwad.

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Dhoni, who led CSK in 212 matches, winning 128 games while losing 82 matches since the IPL began in 2008 except for the two seasons when the franchise was suspended due to spot-fixing, stepped down as the captain of the CSK on the eve of 2024 IPL and handed over the reins to Gaikwad, who has been part of the franchise since 2019.

"You have to look at the long-term picture. More often than not, the batsmen who are part of your core squad and do well for you are the ones you can rely on for a longer period. With bowlers, especially fast bowlers, there is always a tendency for injuries.

"Ruturaj has been part of us for quite some time. He has done well for us. His temperament is very good—he's very calm, very composed. He and Fleming get along very well. So those were the reasons we considered him for leadership. We were quite sure Ruturaj would be good for us," Dhoni said on JioHotstar show "The MS Dhoni Experience".