Chennai Super Kings have had a tough start to their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign, managing just two wins from their first six matches and slipping to seventh in the points table.Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has faced mounting criticism not only for the team’s performance but also for his own struggles with the bat. He scored just 82 runs in six innings at an average of 13.67 and a strike rate of 112.33, figures that reflect his dip in form.
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Stephen Fleming on CSK’s overhaul, pressure player rule and impact on bowling However, former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the onus cannot rest on the young captain alone. Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast, he pointed to the behind-the-scenes decision makers.“I lay the blame at the doorstep of the owners and the people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he became captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order,” Manjrekar said.He also hinted that the constant spotlight around MS Dhoni was complicating matters for Gaikwad.“And then the thing with MS Dhoni, whether he’s going to play, whether he’s going to be the captain, they’ve handled it very badly. And here you see the conceit of the Indian culture that has seeped into cricket. I mean, Dhoni is not just a fan, there’s sycophancy around it,” he added.Manjrekar backed up his point by recalling a past moment involving Dhoni that drew a strong reaction from fans.“There was (this) case where Dhoni was trying to tuck his bat into the crease and it was very tight. And I said, well, he’s obviously missing the crease and it should run out. They (the fans) got mad at me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So they lost sight of the whole picture somewhere.”Dhoni, meanwhile, has played no part in IPL 2026 after suffering a calf strain before the season.When asked if his return could ease the pressure on Gaikwad, Manjrekar looked uncertain, raising questions about how the veteran would fit into the current set-up.“Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean it’s getting harder and harder for him to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he was getting used to the order and only bowled three or four balls. It would also trigger coverage – ‘What an innings’.” And it lasted four balls.“So it’s not feasible anymore and it’s never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when MS was on the field but not the captain, as opposed to MS not being there and only him in charge,” he said.The former cricketer also broadened the discussion by comparing CSK’s approach to that of Mumbai Indians and suggested that both franchises may be too attached to established stars.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are a bit guilty of being emotionally attached and investing a bit too much in big names and big brand players. CSK even more so with Dhoni. It means you don’t get guys who are in their prime. It’s like you’re living a bit in the past. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime, in the modern T20 format it’s such contemporary cricket.” that you do with your team.” added Manjrekar.
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