NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent the third highest amount for a single player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Friday when they bought England's high-profile all-rounder Ben Stokes for Rs 16.25 crore. And if expert opinion is to be believed, it's a move to pass on the baton of CSK captaincy from MS Dhoni to Stokes.
"I think so, I think he (Stokes) will be captain. We have seen MS Dhoni try and pass the (CSK) captaincy on; he has not been playing cricket regularly in between the IPL. It's just an opportunity for MS Dhoni to pass the baton. I think yes, they will do it straight away. Ben Stokes will be captain," Styris said during a post-auction show on Jio Cinema.
Dhoni had relinquished CSK captaincy in the 2022 edition; but after Ravindra Jadeja failed miserably at the job, the leadership duties were given back to the former India captain.
In all probability, the 41-year-old Dhoni will be playing his last IPL season next year, and the CSK management would want to find a successor sooner than later and also give time to the incumbent to play a season with Dhoni in order to settle into the job.
Getting Stokes, who captains England in Test cricket, at the auction could precisely be a move to facilitate that.
