For the first time in IPL history, Mahendra Singh Dhoni will not captain a team in the T20 league. A day before IPL auctions in Bengaluru, MSD was sacked as captain of Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS), ending his innings as skipper in both international and franchise cricket. The former Indian skipper has stepped down from captaincy in the limited over format before the start of England series earlier this year. RPS has replaced Dhoni by current Australian skipper Steve Smith. However, M S Dhoni will continue to be a part of Pune franchise as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
According to the sources, RPS finishing seventh in the last year league which was their maiden IPL campaign lead the franchise to remove him as captain. For the first time in his IPL career as skipper, Dhoni failed to take his team to the playoffs. Industrialist and Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka told PTI, "Dhoni has not stepped down. We have appointed Steve Smith as the skipper for the upcoming season. Frankly speaking, we did not have a good last season and we wanted someone young to lead the side and revamp it ahead of the upcoming season 10".
Goenka further added to his statement, “I have the highest regard for M S Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni will continue to be an important part of our team. He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchise’s best interests in mind." The most expensive player of the tournament that begun in 2008, Dhoni had led the now suspended Chennai Super Kings to two titles back to back in 2010 and 2011, four runners up, one semi finalist and one playoff finishes. The Supergiants had only won five out of fourteen matches in their maiden season. The last ball six, over mid-wicket by Dhoni off Axar Patel in Vizag helped RPS finish off in style. But apart from scoring 23 runs in the final over in an effortless contest against Kings XI Punjab, Dhoni failed to give a memorable maiden season for the new franchise.
Pune were one of the two new teams in IPL 2016 along with Gujarat Lions following the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Although the team started well with a win over Mumbai Indians in their first match, it failed to be consistent with the likes of Kevin Pieterson, Faf du Plesis and Steven Smith withdrawal due to injuries.
The man replacing Dhoni as captain, the 27-year-old Smith, is currently the captain of the Australian cricket team in all three formats. He was appointed as Test captain in 2014/2015 and took over as ODI captain after the end of 2015 world cup.
Despite being removed as captain, the source said Dhoni will support Smith to lead Pune Supergiants in all possible ways.
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