With the legendary wicketkeeper-batter and former captain MS Dhoni still playing and experienced leaders like Sanju Samson joining the squad, the leadership equation at the Chennai Super Kings camp is becoming one of the biggest talking points ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026.
Ruturaj Gaikwad took over the captaincy in 2024 when he was selected as the successor to Dhoni. The franchise showed strong belief in the Maharashtra opener and confirmed that he will continue as captain for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
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Despite his struggle as captain, Gaikwad scripted history in 2024. He became the first CSK captain to score an IPL century, smashing 108 runs against the Lucknow Super Giants. That knock broke Dhoni’s previous record of 84 runs, as Gaikwad recorded the highest individual score by a CSK skipper.
Why Does MS Dhoni’s Influence Still Loom Large?
Dhoni’s influence inside Chennai Super Kings remains huge even after handing over the captaincy to Gaikwad. The legendary wicketkeeper continues to guide the franchise as a senior figure and mentor. He still helps Gaikwad with field placements, bowling changes, and tactical calls in tough moments.
He was the first player signed by the franchise in 2008 for a then-record $1.5 million. Over the years, Dhoni’s leadership built the famous “CSK culture” where they back their players during tough phases and maintain a calm dressing room environment. This brought massive success to the franchise.
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Sponsors like Myntra and Gulf Oil have been eager to stay connected with the “Thala” brand, while CSK’s matches in the league regularly crash the television viewership. Given that, Dhoni remains the big decision-maker inside the dressing room no matter if Gaikwad leads the team on the field.
Later in the 2025 season, Mhatre delivered a sensational knock of 94 runs from 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He finished the season with 240 runs at an incredible strike rate of 188.98 in just 7 innings. This led CSK to retain him for ₹30 lakh as an uncapped player for IPL 2026.
He has also captained Mumbai at different age-group levels. Even the young batter was often seen discussing tactics with Gaikwad and Dhoni during matches, especially about field placements and bowling strategies during the IPL 2025 season. CSK feels Ayush could become an important leader for the franchise in the future.
Can CSK maintain stability with multiple leaders and win IPL 2026?
This multi-leader setup can either become a strength or create confusion inside the dressing room, but one thing is clear: the upcoming IPL 2026 season will decide CSK’s future direction.
However, playing at the spin-friendly Chepauk stadium with bowlers like Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar could still give them a major advantage. Additionally, CSK is planning a fresh batting structure for this season. The idea is to have Mhatre open the innings alongside Samson, while captain Gaikwad could move down to No. 3 in order to add more attacking intent at the top.
Notably, the Chennai Super Kings are all set to kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against the Rajasthan Royals on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
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