IPL 2016: The Leaders Of The Ships

This year, though, presents a new challenge for Dhoni as he leads a brand new side - Rising Pune Super Giants - in the ninth edition...

- Bhavesh Bhimani

This year, though, presents a new challenge for Dhoni as he leads a brand new side – Rising Pune Super Giants – in the ninth edition...

The ninth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is up and running and has got fans excited again. The T20 league has always provided a lot of entertainment to cricket fans all over the globe, and this time too a lot is expected from the championship. The tournament has served as a staple diet for cricket hungry fans from India every summer and has established a firm loyalty for its various teams in different parts of the world. And now, with two new teams in the fray, there is some extra fizz to this year’s IPL.

It is the captains, though, who, like always, will have their tasks cut out in this grueling tourney. Let us then briefly have a look at the captains of all the eight teams in the tournament.

MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI (RISING PUNE SUPER GIANTS)

Need one even say more about this living legend in his own right? There are cool captains, there are smart captains and then there is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Inarguably, one of the most successful captains – especially of the limited overs format – Dhoni has been thriving with utmost ease in the IPL. In the eight years prior to this, Dhoni had led his IPL team Chennai Super Kings in 129 matches and won 78 of them. His win percentage is thus a staggering 60. As a batsman too he has close to 3000 runs in the league with a strike rate of 140. He is, hence, invaluable.

This year, though, presents a new challenge for Dhoni as he leads a brand new side – Rising Pune Super Giants – in the ninth edition of the league. With players like Steven Smith, Kevin Pietersen, Mitchell Mars h, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane in his side, Dhoni can very well lead his new team to glory.

SURESH RAINA (GUJARAT LIONS)