Chennai Super Kings have had a tough start to their 2026 Indian Premier League campaign, managing just two wins from their first six matches and slipping to seventh place in the points table.Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has faced increasing criticism, not only for the team’s results but also for his struggles with the bat.
Across six innings, he scored just 82 runs at an average of 13.67 and a strike rate of 112.33, figures that reflect his decline in form.
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Stephen Fleming on CSK’s revamp, bowling pressure and influential player base
However, the former India batter
Sanjay Manjrekar
He believes that the responsibility cannot fall solely on the shoulders of the young leader. Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, he pointed out the decision-makers behind the scenes.“I’ll put that blame on the owners and the people who make the big decisions.
Because Gaikwad, before becoming captain, was exceptional at the top of the order,” Manjrekar said.It was also suggested that light be constantly shed around it
MS Dhoni
It has complicated matters for Gaikwad.“And then this thing with MS
Donnie
Whether he was going to play or become captain, they handled it very poorly. And this is where you see the adulation of Indian culture seeping into cricket as well. “I mean there are not just fans who follow Dhoni, there is adulation around him,” he added.
Manjrekar supported his point by recalling a past moment involving Dhoni which elicited a strong reaction from the fans.“He was there [this] One time when Dhoni tried to put his bat into the crease, it was a very close shot. And I said, well, it’s clearly lacking frizz, and it should go out. they [fans] He got angry with me for saying that because he was anti-Dhoni. So they lost the whole picture somewhere.Meanwhile, Dhoni has not played any role in IPL 2026 so far after suffering a calf strain before the season.When asked if his return could ease the pressure on Gaikwad, Manjrekar seemed unsure, raising questions about how the veteran would fit into the current setup.“Maybe, but then you have to play without Dhoni in the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he finds it difficult to deliver the ball. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to run the order and only play three or four balls. And the coverage was amplifying that as well – ‘What an innings.’
It lasted four balls.“So that’s not possible anymore, and it will never be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when MS was on the field, but not captain, rather than MS not being there and he was the only one in charge.”The former cricketer also expanded the discussion, comparing CSK’s approach with that of Mumbai Indians, suggesting that both franchises could be overly attached to established stars.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are somewhat guilty of getting too emotional and investing in big names and big brand players too much. CSK is more so with Dhoni. It means you don’t get guys in their prime. It’s like living in the past a bit. It’s just about getting guys in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s a modern-day format, so you better be up to date with everything you do with your team,” Manjrekar added.
