New Delhi: Just one day before the 2017 IPL auction, Rising Pune Supergiants decision to replace MS Dhoni with Steve Smith as captain of the team sent shockwaves across the cricketing universe.
Under 35-year-old Dhoni`s captaincy, the Pune team finished second last in their debut IPL season in 2016, winning only five games and losing nine.
READ: RPS owner Sanjeev Goenka reveals reason behind replacing MS Dhoni with Steve Smith as captain
Dhoni scored 284 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 135 while 27-year-old Smith, who captains Australia in all formats, hit 270 in seven at a 153-strike rate.
"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," Goenka told the Press Trust of India.
Here are some of the most epic Twitter trolls that followed the shocking news:-
Steve Smith replaces MS Dhoni as the captain of Rising Pune Supergiants. pic.twitter.com/1LlaMin6X3
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 19, 2017
As If Losing Matches Was Not Enough For Pune, They Want To Lose All The Fans Too. (MS Dhoni)
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) February 19, 2017
Pathetic Decision By Rising Pune Supergiants. pic.twitter.com/WQvgU3ypGT
Yo @RPSupergiants, you guys must be mad to sack MS Dhoni as the club's captain. Have you guys decided to finish last this #IPL10 season? pic.twitter.com/UoM6ZmtUnh
— Avinash Raina (@AviRaina) February 19, 2017
MS Dhoni removed as RPSG's captain, Last Year they lost matches, this year they'll lose their fans too?
— Virender Sehwag (@VirenderSehweg) February 19, 2017
Did Dhoni Resign Or Has Been Removed From Captaincy Of Pune Seems Like The Plot Of "Ms Dhoni: The Untold Story 2" Is Ready #IPLauction
— Virender Sehwag (@VirenderSehweg) February 19, 2017
I bet @RPSupergiants will lost their 80% fans because of this decision making steve Smith skipper replacing MS Dhoni
— Debjit Sinha (@DebjitSpeaks) February 19, 2017
Dhoni was chosen to head the Pune franchise after the Supergiants and Gujarat Lions replaced Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, which were suspended for two seasons following a spot-fixing scandal in 2013.
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