IPL: Steve Smith to replace MS Dhoni as Rising Pune Supergiants captain

NEW DELHI: A day before the 2017 Indian Premier League players' auction, MS Dhoni has been replaced as the captain of Rising Pune Supergiants by Australian skipper Steve Smith, the franchise said on Sunday.

Confirming the development, RPS owner Sanjiv Goenka said, "Yes we have opted for Steve Smith as captain of RPS for the forthcoming IPL season. I have been thinking about this decision



since the end of the last season and discussing it with my management team. And our thought is to have a younger captain at the helm of the team this year. We have a very good mix of youth and experience in the team and feel we need a young mind and a young captain with different ideas to spearhead Rising Pune Supergiants."

RPS had finished seventh in their maiden season last year.