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 Rising Pune Supergiant Captaincy Exit

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has revisited one of the most surprising leadership decisions in Indian Premier League history: Rising Pune Supergiant’s choice to remove MS Dhoni as captain after the 2016 season and appoint Steve Smith in his place. The move stunned players, given Dhoni’s stature in the game and his success as a leader.

Speaking in a video for ESPNcricinfo, du Plessis said the decision came after the team had endured a difficult run of results. While changing captains is not unusual in professional sport, replacing a figure as influential as Dhoni was a major call—particularly with Smith still early in his captaincy career.

Why Rising Pune Supergiant’s Decision Made Headlines

Rising Pune Supergiant, owned by Sanjeev Goenka, joined the IPL as a temporary franchise for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Dhoni led the side in its first campaign, but the team struggled to find consistency and finished near the bottom of the standings. After the season, the management handed the captaincy to Australia batter Smith.

Du Plessis recalled that the change caught the dressing room off guard. “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 significance beyond the team’s immediate results. Dhoni was already one of cricket’s most recognisable captains, known for his calm approach and ability to guide teams through pressure. Removing him from the role was therefore a bold statement from the franchise—and a highly visible prediction about the direction it wanted to take.

Steve Smith Faced a Difficult Leadership Challenge

Smith took charge at a relatively early stage in his leadership journey. He had shown promise as a captain, but leading an IPL team is a demanding assignment: it requires managing international stars, adapting quickly to changing conditions and making high-stakes decisions in front of a global audience.

His task was made more complicated by Dhoni’s presence in the squad. The former captain remained an experienced senior player, but now occupied a supporting position under the new skipper. Du Plessis said that dynamic could not have been easy for Smith, especially so soon after Dhoni had lost the captaincy.

“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,” du Plessis said. He also noted the challenge of having Dhoni as the team’s second-in-command after such a high-profile change.

Smith’s response was strong. In the 2017 IPL, Rising Pune Supergiant reached the final, a remarkable turnaround from the team’s disappointing first season. The run suggested that the appointment had worked on the field, even if the captaincy change initially seemed startling.

A Final Decided by the Narrowest of Margins

The 2017 final against the Mumbai Indians became one of the closest title matches in IPL history. Mumbai made 129 for 8, setting Pune a target of 130. Smith’s team came within touching distance, but Mumbai held on to win by a single run.

Smith top-scored for Pune with 51 from 50 deliveries, while Ajinkya Rahane contributed 44 off 38. The pair gave the chase a solid foundation, but the remaining batters were unable to provide enough support to carry the team across the line.

Du Plessis believes Pune had a genuine opportunity to win the championship. “Smith led the team to the final, and we lost that final, which we should have won. We were that close,” he said. He added that a victory would have made Smith an IPL-winning captain after just one season in charge—a remarkable achievement for a relatively inexperienced leader.

What the 2017 Campaign Revealed

The season offered a useful lesson in how quickly fortunes can change in T20 cricket. Pune went from a struggling side to a finalist, showing the value of improved execution, a settled leadership structure and contributions from key players. It also demonstrated that a captain’s impact cannot be judged only by experience or reputation; Smith’s ability to guide the group through the campaign helped answer doubts about the appointment.

At the same time, the final underlined how small the margins are in the IPL. A target of 130 appeared achievable, and Pune’s leading batters put the chase within reach. Yet one missed opportunity or a single effective delivery can reshape the outcome of a close match. Mumbai’s one-run win turned what might have been a title-winning season for Smith into a near miss remembered for its tension.

Dhoni’s role in the campaign also remains part of the story. Although he was no longer captain, his experience gave the team a valuable senior presence. The arrangement was unusual: a celebrated former skipper supporting a younger leader who had just taken his place. According to du Plessis, managing that situation was one of Smith’s most demanding responsibilities.

A Bold Call That Nearly Delivered an IPL Title

Rising Pune Supergiant’s decision to replace Dhoni with Smith remains a striking example of how quickly leadership can change in franchise cricket. The move surprised the dressing room, but Smith’s first season as captain brought the team to within one run of the IPL trophy.

For du Plessis, the outcome highlights both the pressure of the decision and the quality of Smith’s response. Pune did not win the final, but its run to the championship match gave the captaincy change a compelling sporting justification. The episode continues to attract interest from IPL fans because it combined a major leadership shake-up, Dhoni’s presence in a new role and a final that was decided by the smallest possible margin.