MS Dhoni made a trademark return to captaincy with a touch of wit and wisdom during the toss ahead of Chennai Super Kings’ clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. In his first game back as skipper after more than 600 days, Dhoni didn’t just bring experience to the table—he brought humour too, cheekily comparing CSK’s batting style to that of teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Back in charge after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the season, Dhoni led CSK at their fortress, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Friday, April 11. With CSK languishing in the bottom half of the table, having lost four of their first five games, Dhoni’s return comes at a critical juncture for the five-time champions.
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Speaking at the toss, MS Dhoni acknowledged the importance of every game moving forward. He stressed that CSK’s path to revival lies in nailing the basics—tight bowling, sharp fielding, and controlled aggression. “Every game is important now. We’ve lost too many matches, and we need to go back to doing the basics right—dot balls and taking catches. Some games were lost by big margins, but in others, it came down to small things—like one over going for 20 runs,” he explained.
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But it was his subtle jab at RCB and SRH that caught the attention of fans. When asked about CSK’s batting approach, Dhoni said with a grin, “Our batters are more authentic batters. They don’t slog everything. They just need to back their instincts.” He emphasized the importance of a solid start with the bat and early breakthroughs with the ball.
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This marks Dhoni’s first captaincy appearance since the IPL 2023 final, and his leadership aura remains undiminished. With a win percentage of 58.85—the highest among IPL captains with over 50 matches—Dhoni’s legacy as a tactical mastermind continues to inspire.
For CSK, this game is more than just another fixture—it’s a turning point. With Dhoni at the helm once again, fans and players alike will be hoping for the spark that reignites their campaign. Whether this move can steer CSK back into the top half of the table remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: MS Dhoni is back, and he means business.
