Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed his delight at Ben Stokes’ arrival at the Chennai Super kings squad for the Indian Premier League, 2024. Chennai was seeking an all-rounder and found it in Ben Stokes.
Chennai’s Quest for an All-Rounder
The yellow army always takes the best, and we expected the same with its pursuit of Samuel Matthews Curran. Retention of the young English star was an expectation, however, the adversaries had better plans.
With Sam Curran in possession of Punjab, with an enormous price tag of 18.5 crores, he became the most expensive player in the Indian Premier League.
Chennai was on its outlook for an all-rounder. They juggled with their luck at the pursuit to gain West-Indies’ Jason Holder, but failed in the attempt. Things did not go as planned.
However, Chennai Super Kings could secure Ben Stokes for 16.25 crores, making him the third most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League. The task was arduous, as there were four other competitors who wanted to add Stokes to their squad.
Ben Stokes’s Entry Creates a Rumour
The on-set of Ben Stokes into the Chennai Super Kings squad raised many suspicions. Experts and fans discussed the idea that he could become a replacement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain of the franchise. The other rumour which arises along is that will he become the leader after ‘Captain Cool’.
In 2022, Mahi had stepped down from the role of captain in the Chennai Super kings squad. Ravindra Jadeja was his successor, but he failed to live up to the responsibilities given to him. They eventually forced Dhoni to take the captainship back.
Entry of Ben Stokes was sure to create rumours, as the player is the captain of the England test team, and hence becomes a probable option to lead the squad.
Kashi Vishwanath’s Statement
CEO of the Chennai Super Kings, Kashi Vishwanath cleared the confusion which was in the air. He said that the yellow army was happy to have Ben Stokes. About the captainship, he said that options are there but Mahendra Singh Dhoni would have to take that decision in time.
He also gave updates on Kyle Jamieson, who was suffering from an injury. Stephen Fleming, former New Zealand captain and now coach of Chennai Super Kings, said Jamieson is fit and ready to go. The CEO also said that the squad looks bright and they expect they will do well this season.
Dhoni’s Reaction
Mahendra Singh Dhoni expressed his joy at the reunion with Ben Stokes. He has played alongside the England international, and is looking for another season of action.
Ben Stokes is an important player in the England squad and they expect him to fill the void of Sam Curran. Stokes, being a leader in the test squad for England, makes him a probable successor. However, all will depend on Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the moment.
Chennai This Season
The yellow army has always been a dominant force in the Indian Premier league. They have won the title for four times and will look forward to adding more silverware to their collection.
The Chennai Super Kings will look forward to putting their best foot forward as the league begins. The team has been one of the most consistent in their performance from the origin of the league.
With the addition of Ben Stokes, Ajinkya Rahane and others, the team will look forward to establishing their dominance. However, only time will tell how the giants will prevail in the upcoming season.
Ben Stokes coming into the squad could mean many things. However, the idea of him becoming the successor does not fade away. Stokes leading the England test squad and the reputation he carries make him a probable successor of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
