MS Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month through a social media post, is 39 and CSK might need to bid adieu to one of cricket's most iconic characters pretty soon.
Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) Mahendra Singh Dhoni have had a lustrous career so far as a skipper, guiding his side to multiple Indian Premier League (IPL) titles on multiple occasions.
However, the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman is now hitting the time where he will decide to call it time on his IPL career as well.
Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket last month through a social media post, is 39 and CSK might need to bid adieu to one of cricket's most iconic characters pretty soon.
While the journeyman is still going strong and is currently prepping for IPL 2020, reports last month also suggested that Dhoni might retire entirely from cricket if CSK wins the 13th edition of IPL in UAE this season.
What MS Dhoni has achieved as a skipper might never be matched but here are some possible names Chennai Super Kings might look at from their current squad to appoint as their next captain.
1. Dwayne Bravo
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West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo is widely renowned for being a matchwinner due to his ability to perform under pressure and thrive in it.
Bravo has been with the Chennai franchise since 2011 and is easily one of the key members in the team due to his star allrounder skills. The Windies cricketer knows CSK inside out and is also very close to MS Dhoni.
The former Windies skipper might be a very good option for the captain's role as he also hold huge experience under his belt when it comes to playing in this compition.
2. Suresh Raina
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Even though Suresh Raina won't be part of the CSK team for IPL 2020 due to "personal reasons", the veteran Indian batsman has played clinical roles in Dhoni's side during Chennai Super Kings' tile challenges in the past seasons.
Raina, who is popularly known as Chinna Thala amongst fans, is one of those characters who is very much adored by the CSK fanbase. The record run-scorer in the IPL had also announced his retirement from international cricket just moments after Dhoni announced his on the same day.
During his time with the Chennai franchise, Raina have had the privilege to stand as the deputy to MS Dhoni and learned a lot from the former Team India skipper.
Raina also has the experience to lead a team to glory in IPL, from his time with Gujarat Lions.
3. Shane Watson
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Former Australian skipper Shane Watson is another big candidate to take over from Dhoni as the CSK skipper.
The Aussie allrounder is highly experienced and also holds the capacity to lead a side to glory.
A matchwinner on the pitch with a bat and ball in his hand, Watson will be a short-term appointment due to his age but the Australian hard-hitter can be inspirational during his short stint while CSK works on a long-term option.
4. Faf du Plessis
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Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis have had some iconic moments with CSK since his arrival and has been a catalyst to his side's dominance in the IPL.
Faf, who also played under Suresh Raina at Gujarat Lions, is very much renowned for keeping his cool under pressure.
A fantastic fielder and a magnificent batsman, du Plessis' high reputation in the IPL is undeniable.
While he is still yet to captain a side in the IPL, he will not be a stranger to CSK's sky-high expectations if he takes over from Mahi.
5. IPL 2020!
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With the withdrawal of two key Chennai Super Kings players, it will be interesting to see whether MS Dhoni’s side announces any replacement. Raina and Harbhajan are not the only big names to have withdrawn from IPL 2020 due to personal reasons.
Chennai Super Kings’ preparations were thrown out of gear when 13 members, including two players, tested positive for the coronavirus. Deepak Chahar and Rituraj Gaikwad were found positive for the coronavirus and have been kept in isolation for 14 days.
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanathan had stated that the team started training on Friday after no new cases were found in a second test. The second round of COVID tests was mandated after the 13 members of the contingent were found positive for the coronavirus.
