Chennai Super Kings’ leadership crisis refuses to die down, and now former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh has thrown his weight behind a bold idea – sack Ruturaj Gaikwad and hand the captaincy to Sanju Samson.
CSK have missed the playoffs three seasons in a row and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s own form took a hit in 2026, drawing sharp criticism along the way. Things got more interesting when Sanju Samson joined the CSK squad, instantly fueling talk that he could be next in line to lead the side.
CSK have traditionally avoided sudden, reactive changes and are known for backing their leaders through rough patches. Even so, pressure is mounting for the franchise to move past Ruturaj Gaikwad and consider Sanju Samson instead.
Speaking on his Instagram channel, Sadagoppan Ramesh said CSK appear to be weighing up multiple captaincy options and are genuinely debating whether a switch is required. He believes Sanju Samson stands out as a strong candidate simply because of how well he fits into a team environment. Sadagoppan Ramesh pointed to Sanju Samson’s leadership record, having led in 66 IPL matches with 33 wins, a 50% win rate, as proof that he can handle the job.
He also noted that Rajasthan Royals thrived under Sanju Samson’s captaincy, reaching a final and another playoff spot during his tenure. That said, Sadagoppan Ramesh was careful to add that changing captains alone won’t magically deliver silverware for CSK, the team needs bigger changes overall.
On Ruturaj Gaikwad’s struggles, the numbers tell a rough story: the lowest powerplay strike rate of any batter in the IPL 2026, along with just 337 runs at an average of 28. Echoing similar sentiments earlier, former India cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath had suggested that freeing Ruturaj Gaikwad from captaincy duties could actually help his batting. He argued that stripping the leadership role wouldn’t be a harsh call, instead, it could work out better for both the player and the franchise.
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