MS Dhoni steps down as RPSG skipper; Steve Smith favorite to take over

A few months after stepping down as the captain of the Indian cricket team, reports suggest that MS Dhoni has stepped down as the skipper of the Rising Pune Sueprgiants after a terrible outing in the previous season, something that saw them clinch just the handful of victories. The team has the likes of Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis who have been leading their national teams.

However, despite stepping down from his captaincy role, Dhoni would certainly be one of the integral members to the Supergiants given the fact that he is vastly experienced and perhaps one of the most important aspects of the side as well. Dhoni’s decision can be related to his wish to bat with more freedom.

Unless the team decides to opt for an Indian skipper in which case they have Ajinkya Rahane as the best option Steve Smith will certainly be one of the better suited to take over from the 35-year-old. Being relieved from the burden of captaincy has had a positive effect on the batting of the former India skipper. This saw him slam a century and also a magnificent half-century in an ODI and T20I respectively, both of which came against England.

The options for captaincy of the Rising Pune Supergiants are well and truly open. Faf du Plessis has been one of the most inspirational skippers of the South African cricket team in recent times having led them in the absence of AB de Villiers. However, since du Plessis will be required to leave midway through the league, makes Smith the more preferred option.

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RPS have also released a plethora of players from the team and the task for them will be to find right players to balance the team this time.