MS Dhoni sacking as captain shocked us: Former teammate recalls big IPL moment

MS Dhoni's removal as Rising Pune Supergiants captain ahead of the 2017 IPL season left his teammates stunned, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has revealed. He also recalled how Steve Smith handled the pressure and led the franchise to the final in his first season as captain.Dhoni was known to foster a good team environment while he was captaining sides (Courtesy: PTI)New Delhi,Oct 28, 2026 16:36 ISTFormer South Africa captain and Chennai Super Kings batter Faf du Plessis has recalled the shock inside the Rising Pune Supergiants camp after MS Dhoni was removed as captain ahead of the 2017 IPL season. Du Plessis said the decision caught everyone off guard, while Steve Smith handled the challenging transition impressively and led the franchise to the final in his first season as skipper.Speaking on ESPNcricinfo's show Cricketers on Cricketers, du Plessis reflected on the decision to replace Dhoni, one of the most successful captains in IPL history, after Rising Pune endured a difficult debut campaign in 2016."MS Dhoni was removed as captain of Rising Pune Supergiants after the end of the 2016 IPL season, and that's the biggest move you can make in a tournament of that stature. We hadn't won a couple of games, and the owner at the time made the decision to change the captain. Everyone was shocked after that call," du Plessis said."MS Dhoni as captain was gone, and Steve Smith was the new captain. That was pretty early on in his leadership career. He wasn't experienced, but he did a good job," he added. SMITH HANDLED DHONI'S DEMOTION WELLDu Plessis said Smith faced a difficult task, given that Dhoni remained part of the squad despite losing the captaincy. The Australian had to establish himself as a leader while working alongside a player whose reputation as a captain was already immense."It was tough having MS Dhoni as your number two there, especially after he'd just been removed as captain. Smith led the team to the final, and we lost that final, which we should have won. We were that close," du Plessis said. Smith's leadership nearly delivered a title in his first season at the helm. Rising Pune lost the 2017 final to Mumbai Indians by just one run, missing out on what would have been a remarkable achievement for the relatively inexperienced captain."Winning that final would have made Smith an IPL-winning captain in just one season of captaincy. That says a lot about him," du Plessis added.DHONI'S IPL 2027 FUTURE UNCERTAINDhoni's own future in the IPL is now under scrutiny, with the former Chennai Super Kings captain yet to confirm whether he will return for the 2027 season. He missed the entire 2026 campaign because of calf issues, as CSK struggled to reach the playoffs.Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on October 24, Dhoni said he would assess his fitness and make a decision before December. He has not ruled out playing another season, but his participation will depend on whether he believes his body can handle the demands of the tournament.The uncertainty has left CSK and their supporters waiting for clarity on the future of a player who helped deliver five IPL titles to the franchise. More than a decade after his removal as Pune captain, Dhoni's next move could once again become one of the biggest talking points ahead of an IPL season.- Ends