Has the time come for Chennai Super Kings to look beyond Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain? Former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes the five-time IPL champions could turn to Sanju Samson for leadership duties next season, citing his proven captaincy experience and strong presence as a leader.
CSK had named Gaikwad as the successor to MS Dhoni a couple of seasons ago, but with the franchise struggling in IPL 2026, questions are now being raised over whether he will continue in the role.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Tiwary said CSK may have brought Samson into the setup not only for his batting but also with leadership in mind.
“There’s a big question mark over whether Ruturaj Gaikwad will be CSK captain next season. I feel it’s going to be a little tight because Sanju is in the frame now. And it will be the right decision,” Tiwary said.
He further added that Samson’s experience as captain of Rajasthan Royals makes him a strong candidate to lead the Chennai franchise.
“CSK would have brought Sanju Samson into the team as a leader. Ruturaj has been leading the side for a couple of years, so they gave him an extra season. I think next year it’s possible for Sanju to be the new CSK captain because this season it appears difficult for them to qualify and become champions,” he said.
Gaikwad became only the fourth player after Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina to captain CSK. So far, he has led the side in 32 matches, winning 14 and losing 18.
Tiwary believes the franchise will have to make a major leadership decision at the end of the season, regardless of where they finish on the points table.
“Wherever they finish, a decision has to be made. Sanju is the best person since he has done captaincy for RR and is a top player too,” he added.
CSK’s playoff hopes took another hit after their five-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk on Monday. The Men in Yellow now face a must-win clash against Gujarat Titans in their final league match and will also need several other results to go their way to stay alive in the playoff race.
