Dhoni steps down as RPSG captain !

MS Dhoni, who recently stepped down as the captain of the Indian limited overs team, has now been removed as the captain of the Rising Pune Super Giants. (Dhoni steps down as RPSG captain !)

Steven Smith has been appointed as the new captain of the Rising Pune Super Giants for the tournament that starts from April 5. This news has come on the eve of the IPL player draft that will take place in Bangalore on February 20.

The Pune team finished second last in IPL 2016 which was a season filled with injuries to key players. This was the first time that a MS Dhoni led side had not made it to the playoffs.

“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,” Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka told PTI. (Dhoni steps down as RPSG captain !)

“I have the highest regard for MS Dhoni as a leader and a person. Dhoni continues to be an integral member of our team. He is supportive of the decision keeping the franchise’s best interests in mind,” Goenka added.

This is the first time that Dhoni will play as a wicket keeper batsman and not as a captain in the IPL. He was the captain in all previous nine seasons of the IPL.

The Super Giants lose nine matches and won only five in last year’s edition. Dhoni himself had failed to make much of an impression with the bat. The team management was probably looking to change things up heading into the new season of the IPL. (Dhoni steps down as RPSG captain !)