Faf du Plessis recalls shock decision to remove MS Dhoni as RPSG captain before IPL 2017

Faf du Plessis recalls shock decision to remove MS Dhoni as RPSG captain before IPL 2017

Faf du Plessis Recalls the Shock of MS Dhoni’s Captaincy Change at Rising Pune Supergiant

Former South Africa batter Faf du Plessis has reflected on one of the most surprising leadership decisions in Indian Premier League history: the Rising Pune Supergiant’s choice to replace MS Dhoni as captain with Steve Smith ahead of the 2017 season. The move stunned players, given Dhoni’s reputation, experience and success as a leader.

Speaking in a video interview with ESPNcricinfo, du Plessis said the decision came after Pune struggled to win matches during its first IPL campaign in 2016. The franchise, owned by Sanjiv Goenka, opted for a change at the top, placing the captaincy in the hands of Smith, who was still relatively early in his leadership career.

For teammates, the change was more than a routine tactical adjustment. Dhoni was one of the most influential figures in the sport, and removing him from the role was a major call for a franchise still finding its footing in the league.

Why Pune’s Decision Surprised the Dressing Room

Dhoni captained Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2016 IPL season, when the newly formed team finished near the bottom of the standings. The franchise’s results fell short of expectations, and management decided to appoint Smith as captain for the following campaign.

Du Plessis recalled that players were taken aback by the change. “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,” he said.

The decision carried added weight because of Dhoni’s stature. By then, he had established himself as one of cricket’s most accomplished captains, known for staying composed under pressure and making sharp decisions in high-stakes situations. Naming Smith as his replacement was therefore a bold move—and a subject of considerable discussion among players and fans.

Smith had shown leadership potential, but he did not yet have the extensive captaincy record that Dhoni had built across international cricket and the IPL. The franchise was effectively asking a young leader to take charge while the former captain remained in the dressing room as a senior teammate.

Steve Smith’s First Season as Captain

Du Plessis acknowledged that Smith faced a difficult situation. Dhoni was no longer captain, but his experience and presence remained central to the team. That dynamic could have been challenging for a new leader, particularly when the outgoing captain was among the most respected figures in the game.

“MS Dhoni as captain was gone, and Steve Smith was the new captain. That was pretty early on in his leadership career,” du Plessis said. He added that Smith handled the responsibility well, despite the unusual circumstances.

The results of the 2017 season gave the decision a compelling sporting dimension. Pune improved dramatically, advanced to the IPL final and came within a single run of winning the title. Smith’s leadership was a significant part of that campaign, as the team showed greater consistency and resilience after its disappointing debut season.

Smith’s appointment also became an important moment in his broader cricket career. He would go on to captain Australia and lead other teams, but his first IPL campaign as a captain offered an early test of his ability to manage a high-profile squad and deliver results under pressure.

A One-Run IPL Final That Still Stands Out

Rising Pune Supergiant faced the Mumbai Indians in the 2017 final at Hyderabad. Mumbai batted first and posted 129, a modest total that appeared within Pune’s reach. The chase, however, developed into a tense contest, with Pune unable to find the final runs it needed.

Smith scored 51 from 50 deliveries, while Ajinkya Rahane contributed 44 from 38 balls. Their efforts kept Pune in the hunt, but the rest of the batting order could not provide enough support to finish the chase. Mumbai held on to win by one run, securing the championship in a dramatic final.

Du Plessis remains convinced that Pune had a genuine opportunity to take the trophy. He said the team came close enough that the defeat still feels like a missed chance. Had Pune won, Smith would have become an IPL-winning captain in his first season in the role—an achievement that would have transformed the way the captaincy change was remembered.

What the Captaincy Change Meant for Dhoni and Pune

The decision to replace Dhoni did not erase his importance to the team. Instead, it created an unusual leadership structure: Smith held the official title, while Dhoni brought years of experience and remained a key figure within the squad. For a young captain, balancing authority with the presence of a legendary teammate was a demanding task.

That arrangement also highlights how IPL franchises weigh performance, leadership and long-term planning. A captaincy change can be driven by short-term results, but its consequences extend beyond the team sheet. Players must adapt to new roles, a new leader must earn trust, and the franchise must accept that a high-profile decision will be closely scrutinised.

In Pune’s case, the outcome was mixed but memorable. The side’s run to the 2017 final suggested that the change had helped unlock a stronger campaign, yet the one-run loss prevented the season from ending with a title. The episode remains a notable example of how quickly fortunes can shift in the IPL—and how a single match can shape the legacy of a captaincy decision.

Prediction: Why the 2017 Campaign Still Shapes the Debate

Looking back, the most reasonable prediction is that the Dhoni-to-Smith transition will continue to feature in discussions about bold IPL leadership calls. Pune’s improvement and Smith’s successful first season make it difficult to describe the appointment as a failure. At the same time, the narrow final defeat leaves room for fans to wonder how the story might have changed with a championship.

Du Plessis’s recollection adds an inside perspective to that debate. The surprise in the dressing room shows how unexpected the move felt at the time, while the team’s progress demonstrates that Smith rose to the challenge. The episode was not simply about replacing one captain with another; it was a high-pressure experiment that took a new franchise to the brink of an IPL title.

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