The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have faced scrutiny over their handling of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy, especially following MS Dhoni’s return to the role after Gaikwad’s injury. Gaikwad, who had been groomed for leadership since 2022, was officially appointed as CSK’s captain in 2024. Dhoni had informed him early on to be prepared for the role, and Gaikwad had been actively involved in leadership discussions and decisions .
However, Gaikwad’s tenure as captain faced challenges, including a poor team performance and his own injury. After Gaikwad was ruled out due to a hairline fracture, Dhoni resumed captaincy for the remainder of the 2025 IPL season . This move has led to questions about the stability of leadership and the pressure on Gaikwad, who had just begun to establish his own leadership style.
Critics argue that the frequent changes in captaincy may unsettle the team and undermine the development of emerging leaders like Gaikwad. Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu commented that Gaikwad remains “under the shadow of Dhoni,” suggesting that the transition was not as smooth as anticipated .
Despite these challenges, Gaikwad has expressed his commitment to maintaining CSK’s culture and has received support from senior players and coaches. Head coach Stephen Fleming emphasized that the team is keen to help Gaikwad ease into captaincy, acknowledging that there might be a period of trial and error .
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As CSK continues their campaign, the balance between honoring Dhoni’s legacy and fostering new leadership remains a topic of discussion.
