The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have consistently been one of the most powerful and steady teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). With the foundation laid in 2008, they went on to become a symbol of success, clinching five IPL trophies and making it to the playoffs 12 times in 15 contests. One big factor of their already-successful age-old dynasty lay in their stable succession; only four captains have led CSK in its history. Let’s have a look at Chennai Super Kings all captains who have led this preposterous franchise.

Chennai Super Kings All Captains Full List

1. MS Dhoni (2008-2023)

MS Dhoni is synonymous with the franchise, making him the first name on the CSK captain list. The legendary wicketkeeper-batsman captained the team from its first season in 2008 until 2023, leading CSK to 235 matches in the IPL and the Champions League T20. Under him, CSK claimed the IPL trophies in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023, establishing itself as the most consistent team in the tournament’s history.

Dhoni’s peculiar style of captaincy is characterized by calm under pressure, tactical shrewdness, and his ability to bring the best out of his players. His presence at the helm allowed CSK to remain a threat for the better part of the last two decades. The team was always a force to reckon with and consistently made it into the Playoffs and Finals. Dhoni built a strong core of players, who became stars under him. A crucial quality of the team under Dhoni’s captaincy was that they handled pressure and requested plans impeccably.

MS Dhoni, in addition to being a tactician, mentored many players at CSK. Under his wings, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Chahar, Shivam Dube, and Pernell Williams flourished. Dhoni’s finishing ability, coupled with his astute captaincy, turned CSK into a well-oiled machine. He stepped down from captaincy before IPL 2024, handing over the baton from Ruturaj Gaikwad for a seamless transition.

2. Suresh Raina (2010-2019)

Suresh Raina, popularly known as ‘Mr. IPL,’ occupied the position of captain for CSK while Dhoni was unavailable, and contested six matches in that style. Raina, being a naturally aggressive and attacking player, brought with him an effect into the leadership role. He won two matches as captain and has a magic number of 33.33% as his win percentage.

Despite a short captaincy, Suresh Raina proved to be an invaluable name to the CSK captain list through match-winning knocks and energetic fielding. His ability to lead from the front and stand by was the reason that kept him as Dhoni’s trusted deputy for several years to provide the right assistance to him. Raina’s middle-order performance anchored the team’s batting lineup.

His effectiveness in pushing up the drift and being an excellent fielder made Raina a vital cog in CSK. His time as captain might have been short, but his impact in shaping up the dressing room and also in the field was plenty. He was a superstar and an indispensable piece to CSK’s title-winning schemes.

3. Ravindra Jadeja (2022)

With the new era in mind, CSK handed the captaincy over to Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the IPL 2022, making him the third name on the Chennai Super Kings all captains list. The transition however did not go as planned. During Jadeja’s captaincy, CSK managed only two wins from eight games and Jadeja hardly looked at ease under the additional burden.

Halfway through the season, Jadeja passed back the captaincy to Dhoni for the very same reason, the captaincy pressure dampened his own performance. Short-lived though it was, Jadeja remains an important cog in CSK’s wheel, working in the role of an all-rounder and match-winner. This was painfully evident; he unearthed a peculiar burden in reconciling major decisions as a captain against the demands of his own performance. Despite these pressures, Jadeja remains vital to the success of CSK, often delivering winning performances with both bat and ball.

The CSK state realized leadership might have affected Ravindra Jadeja’s natural game, followed by Dhoni being brought back in as captain which effectively liberated him. Though Jadeja had a very short captaincy stint, it does express CSK’s dedication to grooming new leaders. He is still lurking one of the top all-rounders going around in the IPL for the franchise.

4. Ruturaj Gaikwad (2024-Present)

With Dhoni stepping down before IPL 2024, Ruturaj Gaikwad was appointed as captain. Calm and technically skilled, he had by then established himself as an essential member of CSK’s batting unit. It was a big move, digging into the young leader concept. In his first season, he captained CSK in 14 matches, winning seven and losing the other seven. Some ups and downs did happen in the current season, but Ruturaj Gaikwad already showed promise as a leader, which will allow him to grow better into a long-time captain for the franchise with experience. His calmness and ability to hold the innings make him a likely candidate for the role.

As CSK lays the foundation for its future, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership will take precedence. His establishment to nurture and motivate the next generation will mark his time as a boss. While he hasn’t exactly proved he’s a championship-winning captain yet, his potential is beyond doubt, and CSK fans could look forward to his development in the role.

Conclusion

CSK have succeeded because of their consistency, which extends to the choices of Chennai Super Kings all captains. The Super Kings have only had four looking towards the captaincy in 16 years, which kept the core intact and ensured its stability for achieving success. Each captain from the CSK captain list has contributed to this journey’s growth. CSK still relies on its existing strong leader base as its key to the future. With Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain, it is all set to turn the pages for yet another beautiful chapter in the turbulent history of CSK, and await with bated breath if he can take pride forward in upholding the winning legacy of this rich franchise.