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Former CSK captain MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson and current CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (Source: AFP)
Chennai Super Kings could be heading towards an important leadership decision or change before IPL 2027. The franchise has traditionally preferred continuity in captaincy, but three straight seasons without a playoff appearance must have increased the pressure on CSK's current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
It is important to mention that Gaikwad took over as CSK captain in 2024 from MS Dhoni. The transition was never going to be easy, and the results have not gone his way.
However, Sanju Samson’s CSK trade ahead of IPL 2026 has added another captaincy option for the five-time champions.
Sanju Samson is a serious captaincy option for CSK, believes Ramesh
Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh believes Sanju Samson deserves serious consideration for his experience and ability to manage a team. Speaking on Instagram, he said CSK should look beyond Gaikwad if the franchise decides to make a change.
The former India opener also stressed that appointing Samson alone would not solve CSK's problems. The franchise needs improvements in several areas, but a leadership change could still be an important first step.
"CSK are seemingly considering many options for the captaincy and even wondering whether a change is needed. Sanju Samson should be considered as captain because he’s such a fantastic team player. The CSK captaincy must be changed, and if it is, CSK must seriously consider Sanju Samson,” said Ramesh on his Instagram handle.
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“Samson has also captained 66 matches in the IPL and won 33. So he has a 50% success rate. Under him, RR performed well, reaching the final and making another playoff appearance. Of course, CSK need several other things to change, and just making Sanju the captain won’t win them the trophy. But if at all they change captains, Sanju must be strongly considered,” he added.
How has CSK captaincy affected Ruturaj Gaikwad's performance?
There are also questions over whether the responsibility of leading CSK is hampering Ruturaj Gaikwad's own batting form. Statistically, the right-hander has amassed 459 runs at a modest average of 27 and a strike rate of 129.66 as the CSK skipper in the IPL since the 2025 season.
On the contrary, he has struck 1797 runs at a much better average of 39.06 and a strike rate of 135.52 while playing purely as a batter for the franchise over the years.
Former CSK and India batter Subramaniam Badrinath also previously suggested that relieving Gaikwad off captaincy could help him rediscover his best form.
“So once you remove him from captaincy, he’ll perform well as a batter. It won’t be a harsh decision if he is stripped of captaincy. It’s more beneficial for the player and the franchise. It’ll only do Gaikwad a world of good. This is not new to him alone. Even greats like Sachin Tendulkar have been affected by captaincy. If you are someone who is intense and thinks too much, it’s hard to detach from captaincy even while batting,” he had said on his YouTube channel.
The fact cannot be ignored that Gaikwad could benefit from concentrating entirely on his batting rather than carrying the additional pressure of captaincy.
Ruturaj Gaikwad or Sanju Samson: Who Could Be A Better Captaincy Option For CSK In IPL 2027?
Gaikwad became CSK captain with the difficult task of succeeding MS Dhoni. In 33 matches as skipper, he has recorded 14 wins and 19 defeats, giving him a win/loss ratio of 0.730. However, under his captaincy, the team has failed to reach the playoffs.
On the other hand, Sanju Samson’s captaincy numbers with Rajasthan Royals are stronger in comparison. Across 67 matches as RR captain, he recorded 33 wins, 32 losses, 1 tie, and 1 no-result. His win percentage stands at 49.25.
CSK, as a franchise, has always backed its players, so removing Ruturaj as captain would be a bold move.
However, it would be interesting to see whether CSK will make this bold move ahead of IPL 2027?
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