Simon Doull believes the Mumbai Indians currently pose a tougher captaincy challenge than the Chennai Super Kings, largely due to the unique leadership transition orchestrated by MS Dhoni during the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
CSK have been carefully navigating life beyond Dhoni’s long-standing captaincy. What began as a turbulent and short-lived leadership stint under Ravindra Jadeja has gradually evolved into a more structured and controlled transition, with Ruturaj Gaikwad now leading the side.
Unlike abrupt leadership changes often seen in franchise cricket, CSK’s approach has been measured. Dhoni has consciously stepped away from the spotlight while continuing to guide the team from behind the scenes, ensuring stability within the setup.
Doull pointed out that Dhoni’s deliberate decision to maintain a low profile in IPL 2026 — including staying away from the ground during matchdays as he recovers from a calf injury — has helped the team operate with greater clarity and minimal external noise.
“What MS is doing so well is he’s staying away,” Doull said on Cricbuzz. “He’s staying away from the ground… trying in his best possible way, from an absolute legend of the game, to make sure that when they get to the ground the team is ruthless.”
The former New Zealand pacer emphasised that Dhoni is consciously trying to prevent the overwhelming ‘MS effect’ — driven by media attention and fan frenzy — from overshadowing the current leadership group, allowing CSK to move forward with a clear identity.
