Designated skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out due to an elbow injury in a major setback for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The blow is not just to their batting unit but to their leadership group as well.

In the wake of Gaikwad’s absence, the legendary MS Dhoni has stepped back into the captaincy role, rekindling hopes for the five-time IPL champions as they gear up for a high-stakes encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday at Chepauk.