Chennai Super Kings have been searching for a steady leadership answer in the post-MS Dhoni era, and the question of who should ultimately wear the captain’s armband has only grown more prominent. After Dhoni’s mid-season return during IPL 2022, CSK tried different options before naming Ruturaj Gaikwad skipper for IPL 2024. Results, though, have left gaps in the narrative—prompting fresh attention after the franchise brought in Sanju Samson ahead of IPL 2026.
CSK’s captaincy transition: from Jadeja to Gaikwad
CSK’s journey to stabilise the captaincy has not been straightforward. Following the period after MS Dhoni, the franchise tested Ravindra Jadeja as captain, but the situation required Dhoni’s return as skipper mid-season in IPL 2022. That was followed by another leadership decision as the years moved on.
- Ravindra Jadeja was given the captaincy role, but MS Dhoni was brought back as skipper in the middle of IPL 2022.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad was appointed CSK captain for IPL 2024.
- CSK failed to reach the playoffs in 2024 and ended bottom among 10 teams in 2025.
- In IPL 2026, CSK have lost three of their five matches and are positioned within the bottom three teams.
Sanju Samson arrives amid talk of future leadership
With the side looking to regroup ahead of IPL 2026, CSK secured Sanju Samson ahead of the auction through a trade. Since his arrival, there has been growing speculation about whether Samson is being groomed to lead the five-time champions at some point in the future.
Ashwin backs Samson’s potential, but warns against copying Dhoni-era roles
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Samson could eventually take over the captaincy of CSK. However, Ashwin stressed that the wicketkeeper-batter should focus on forging his own identity rather than trying to mirror the paths of past stars—an apparent reference to the franchise’s long-standing benchmark set during MS Dhoni’s reign.
Reflecting on CSK’s leadership shift across seasons, Ashwin suggested that the transition away from older captaincy patterns had already begun when Jadeja took over, even if the experiment did not unfold as intended. He also pointed to the present setup, saying that Gaikwad has been effectively running the show alongside head coach Stephen Fleming in recent years.
- Ashwin said the “mantle” appeared to be passed on around the time Jadeja handled captaincy, though it “didn’t quite work out”.
- He added that Ruturaj has been leading the side for the last two to three years together with Stephen Fleming.
- On Samson, Ashwin said he can see the wicketkeeper-batter captaining CSK at some stage, while avoiding any commitment on timing.
Ashwin further underlined that Samson should not be forced into the pressure of repeating anyone else’s greatness. He argued that stepping into a previous captain’s legacy is not necessary, and that players should not feel compelled to live or play in a way that matches someone else’s footsteps.
In his view, Samson should create his own imprint: the former CSK player said Samson has his own unique style and that CSK should allow him to define how leadership looks under him, rather than tailoring his approach to another era.
Samson’s IPL 2026 form: century in his fourth game
While leadership talk continues, Samson’s on-field impact has offered CSK a positive storyline. After a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, he has staged a strong comeback—delivering a century in the fourth match against Delhi Capitals. He carried that momentum into the next fixture, scoring 48 runs off just 32 balls.
