3 Possible Captains for CSK after MS Dhoni

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has been consistently been one of the teams to beat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ever since the start of the tournament in 2008. The Men in Yellow have been led by MS Dhoni to three IPL titles and got close to their fourth in what was a nail biter of a finish in the final against the Mumbai Indians last season. However, with MS Dhoni being in the final phase of his cricketing career, the Chennai franchise will be planning for the future and in that they will be needing a captain who can resonate Dhoni’s success. Here are the three players from the currently lot in the CSK side who can build onto something after the wicket-keeper batsman decides to hang his boots.

Faf Du Plessis

When it comes to captaincy, Faf Du Plessis is no rookie. Having led the South African cricket team, Faf certainly is in contention of being the next one in charge for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Faf made his first appearance for the IPL heavyweights way back in 2012. He’s been a key figure with the bat at the top order and is one of the finest fielders in the star-studded tournament. The South-African international has been a party of 71 IPL games and has scored 1853 runs with the bat, which includes 12 fifties at a strike rate of 126.7.

Suresh Raina

If there is anyone who seems the most suitable choice to be the captain of CSK after MS Dhoni, then it has to be ‘Chinna Thala’ Suresh Raina. The specialist left handed batsman has more often than not been one of the most dominating performers in the IPL over the years and has won titles with the respective franchise. Not to forgot that he is pretty much admired and by the Chennai faithful which makes his claim to captaincy even stronger. The 32-year-old has led Gujrat Lions for two seasons but his best has always come for the Men in Yellow. Suresh Raina has featured in 193 IPL games and has scored 5368 runs, which includes 38 fifties and a hundred with a strike rate of 137.

Mitchell Santner

Here’s an interesting and an unexpected pick. But that was similar to how MS Dhoni was made captain of India in 2007 when very little had a clue about his attributes as a leader. Mitchell Santner is 28-years of age and is among the younger lot of players from a CSK team that is filled with veterans. That being said, Santner has a fair bit of experience in the international circuit as he’s been a part of 138 international matches for New Zealand. The left-arm spinner is always likely to get assistance at the home ground in Chennai and is a calm customer just like his current skipper MS Dhoni. With the ‘calmness’ of MSD being the paramount reason for CSK’s success, Mitchell Santner may turn out to be an unconventional but effective skipper in the time to come.