IPL is a demanding tournament and requires immense fortitude. Thereafter, the requirements grow further if you are burdened with the role of captain. Hence, not everyone takes on the duty of captaincy like Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni do. Ravindra Jadeja learned the hiccups of a captain the hard way in the ongoing IPL 2022.
A week before the IPL commenced this season, news dropped about MS Dhoni handing the captaincy baton to Jaddu. The decision made sense as Dhoni is in the sunset phase of his career and hardly plays any competitive cricket other than the IPL. Ravindra Jadeja is an international superstar and a key for the Indian team. He has been a long-time CSK loyalist and comes with his brand. The decision had all the right ingredients and had pumped the fans.
Captaincy Disaster
Contrary to expectations, the CSK campaign got off to a horrible start. They lost the first 4 games straight, the first time since the inception of IPL. Jaddu’s batting looked lackluster and it seemed as if Dhoni was the one at the helm of affairs. This dual decision-making was having a negative impact on the team. Of the 8 games that the team has played, they have been able to win only 2 and sit at the bottom of the table with only Mumbai Indians doing worse than them.
Jaddu drops the captaincy bomb
The CSK team management has just announced that Jadeja has decided to hand back the captaincy role to MS Dhoni. This comes as a shocking decision. The decision to make Ravindra Jadeja the captain was one with the future in mind. Now it leaves the future of the team uncertain as Dhoni’s playing days are numbered. Cricket analysts and commentators are equally taken back by this decision and have taken to Twitter to make their surprise known. People are calling this decision short-sighted and how it shows poorly on the team management. Questions also arise as to who could now possibly succeed Dhoni after he is done with his playing days. The future of CSK seems as uncertain as ever.
Jadeja to handover CSK captaincy back to MS Dhoni:Ravindra Jadeja has decided to relinquish captaincy to focus and concentrate more on his game & has requested MS Dhoni to lead CSK. MS Dhoni has accepted to lead CSK in the larger interest & to allow Jadeja to focus on his game.
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 30, 2022
The return of Dhoni as captain might cheer fans but it is Jadeja who is the more critical person here. If he found it a burden and if it releases him, this might be good news. But I hope he doesn't feel a sense of failure because that could affect him for a while.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 30, 2022
Ravi Jadeja hand over the captaincy of CSK to MS Dhoni.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 30, 2022
Ravindra Jadeja wanted to focus on his game, MS Dhoni has accepted the offer to become CSK captain once again.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 30, 2022
The feeling we're all going to experience seeing Dhoni lead CSK again might seem like deja vu, but it's in fact Jadeja vu 😛 #CSK𓃬 #IPL2022
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 30, 2022
If we get back Jadeja with his on-field performance, I am happy. But I am still happy Dhoni gave him captaincy this season only.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 30, 2022
Brave call from Jadeja. If he doesn't feel he can lead the side, why prolong the misery. And CSK fans will dream and hope again, no matter how impossible it seems.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 30, 2022
Winning % against RCB – 100
Winning % against MI – 100Thank you Captain @imjadeja 🛐
— ‘ (@Ashwin_tweetz) April 30, 2022