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MS Dhoni is on the verge of retirement from T20, hence speculations have started regarding the next captain of the team. Ruturaj Gaikwad is currently the captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), under whose leadership the team has performed well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) so far.
Expectations are huge on his shoulders as he has been positioned as the successor to the great MS Dhoni, who guided the team to 5 IPL titles. Rutu today is far away from Dhoni’s legacy and records.
Sanju Samson can be the next captain of CSK
Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, there was speculation about Sanju Samson’s role in the team. The keeper-batsman has captaincy experience, is a brilliant keeper-batsman and is a crowd puller. There are many reasons in favor of Samson becoming the next captain of Chennai Super Kings.
The team management has shown deep trust in Ruturaj Gaikwad so far. In the presence of Ruturaj, will the management take a step forward to appoint Samson as the leader?
When will Sanju Samson get a leadership role?
According to a recent report, Sanju Samson may replace Ruturaj Gaikwad as the captain of CSK in the future. The process has started, but the team management does not seem to be in a hurry to take a final decision regarding the captaincy of the team. The CSK captain is expected to remain unchanged in the next season also.
“Whether Sanju is made captain for next year or next season, he is 200 per cent CSK’s next captain,” a source told Cricblogger.
The report claimed, “However, another source close to CSK said that Sanju Samson is yet to become the captain. The franchise can take a decision only after next year’s IPL and if Sanju is retained, he can negotiate for the captaincy under the new set-up from the 2028 season.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been good so far as the leader of Chennai Super Kings
Ruturaj has captained CSK in 31 IPL matches, registering 14 wins, 17 losses and a win percentage of 45.16%. He officially took over the leadership role from MS Dhoni ahead of the 2024 season. However, due to a serious injury, he was ruled out for the 2025 season, and Dhoni became the captain again.
In the past, the management had tried the same with Ravindra Jadeja, but that project failed within a season. Jadeja captained Chennai Super Kings in 8 matches during the 2022 IPL season, registering 2 wins and 6 losses.
Before the current season, showing huge confidence in Sanju Samson, CSK traded him to Rajasthan Royals at the cost of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Currently, CSK is balancing on a thin rope between the play-offs and the exit door.
If the team somehow manages to make it to the playoffs, it will be a big relief for the captain himself and the team as well.
Read More: “Please play”: Harbhajan Singh urges MS Dhoni to play in crucial CSK vs SRH IPL 2026 match
