Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has named Ruturaj Gaikwad as the most important player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. He believes Gaikwad has a big chance of leading CSK to their sixth title. This could also be MS Dhoni’s last season as a player.
Gaikwad was appointed CSK’s captain last season. He was retained for INR 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Other key retentions were Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore), Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore), and Dhoni (INR 4 crore).
‘This could be Dhoni’s final season’ – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said IPL 2025 is a great chance for Gaikwad. He can help Dhoni finish his career with another trophy.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad has the chance to lead a big franchise to success. He has the team’s backing, as Dhoni personally handed over the captaincy to him. However, he must uphold CSK’s legacy, which comes with its own pressure. This could be Dhoni’s final season, and if it is, the ideal farewell would be winning the trophy,” Chopra said.
He added that CSK fans expect their team to perform well. If the team does not reach the finals or win the title, the pressure will increase. Chopra also said no one knows how long Dhoni will continue playing. If 2025 is his last season, winning the title would be the perfect farewell.
CSK failed to reach the IPL 2024 playoffs. They finished with 14 points, along with RCB, DC, and LSG. However, RCB secured the last playoff spot due to a better net run rate.
Chopra also spoke about CSK’s new signings for IPL 2025. He named Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar as players with a big opportunity.
“Players who struggle in other teams often find success at CSK. This team gives them proper chances,” he said.
He praised CSK for supporting players and bringing out their best. He used Shivam Dube as an example. Dube had struggled with RCB and RR but became a key player for CSK. Chopra credited Dhoni and the management for boosting his confidence.
With IPL 2025 approaching, all eyes will be on Gaikwad and CSK’s new players to see if they can deliver.