Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are enduring a difficult campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Currently languishing in seventh place on the IPL 2026 table, the five-time champions has struggled immensely, suffering four losses in their first six outings. Compounding these poor results is the underperformance of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has faced criticism for both his tactical leadership and his lack of output with the bat.
Crisis at CSK, calls for leadership change
This slump has triggered widespread calls for a change in leadership. Fans and cricket pundits have voiced their desire to see a shift at the helm, specifically advocating for Sanju Samson to take over the captaincy duties to revitalize the franchise.
Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath has recently weighed in on the debate, supporting the idea of a mid-season transition. Badrinath posits that the pressures of captaincy are directly hindering Gaikwad's batting form, pointing to his underwhelming tally of just 82 runs across six innings. He argues that handing the reins to Samson could alleviate this burden, allowing Gaikwad to focus solely on his performance at the crease.
"It is worth pondering if the CSK management will think about removing him as captain and going to Sanju Samson. 6. It's not because he's failing terribly as captain. But the captaincy burden is clearly showing in his batting. You can see it in his face that he's under immense pressure. Just to offload that pressure, can CSK replace Ruturaj with Sanju as captain?" Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.
Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to start firing: S Badrinath
Gaikwad has struggled to find his rhythm throughout this season, failing to gain any meaningful momentum at the crease. To date, he has managed only 28 runs, resulting in a disappointing average of 13.67. Furthermore, his scoring efficiency has dipped noticeably, with his strike rate falling to just 112.33. This recent slump appears to be a continuation of difficulties rather than an isolated incident. During the previous season, Gaikwad’s performance was similarly hampered, he averaged below 30 and was limited to appearing in just five matches due to recurring injury concerns.
"Ruturaj needs to start firing. Six matches is a lot when you are opening and batting in the powerplay to keep failing. His captaincy was at least decent, though in the SRH game. He hasn't stepped up at all in run-chases," he added.
Growing injury crisis for CSK
CSK are facing a mounting injury crisis that is impacting their IPL 2026 campaign. The franchise has been forced to navigate a difficult season with several key players sidelined, leaving the team thin on resources as they look to climb the points table. The squad's depth is currently being tested by a series of physical setbacks: MS Dhoni: The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has been out of action during the initial phase of the tournament but is making steady progress in his rehabilitation. There is optimism surrounding his return, with expectations that he may be back in the lineup for the upcoming clash against the Mumbai Indians. Ayush Mhatre: The young batting sensation is a major concern for the team after suffering a hamstring tear during their recent match against SRH. While the severity is being assessed, it is feared he could be ruled out for a significant period of the tournament. Khaleel Ahmed: The left-arm pacer has officially been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to injury. As of now, the franchise is still in the process of identifying and appointing a suitable replacement to fill the void in their bowling attack.