There has been much discussion in recent weeks about the possibility that this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) could mark the end of MS Dhoni’s tenure as captain of the Chennai Super Kings. Some reports indicate that the team has already identified Ben Stokes as his successor, with an eye towards a smooth transition of leadership.
Speaking about the future captaincy of the Chennai Super Kings, all-rounder Moeen Ali provided some interesting insights in a recent interview. With a crucial match against Mumbai coming up on Thursday, Ali’s comments have generated a lot of buzz among fans. Here’s what he said:
“There’s no real such leadership group: you have the captain and the coaches, and they talk. If Dhoni wants Ben Stokes’ advice, or a chat with him, it’s a very open environment in that changing room.”
There’s a chance: Moeen Ali on Ben Stokes Becoming CSK captain
While Ben Stokes has been discussed as a potential leader of the Chennai Super Kings, Moeen Ali also highlighted the potential for younger players like Ruturaj Gaikwad to take on leadership roles in the future. However, he made it clear that MS Dhoni is likely to continue in his role for now.
“I think there’s a chance [that Stokes succeeds Dhoni]; of course there’s a chance, because he’s obviously done really well in Test cricket,” Moeen said.
“But MS is still obviously in charge and he’s going to be captain for a while. We have some other guys as well: Ruturaj is a fantastic player with a good head on his shoulders, so it depends on what the franchise wants.”
Chennai Super Kings got off to a rough start this tournament, suffering a five-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans. However, they were able to bounce back in their next game against Lucknow Super Giants, securing a 12-run victory. Now, they will be aiming to continue their winning momentum when they face off against their long-standing rivals, the Mumbai Indians, at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, April 8.
