Chennai Super Kings have slumped to the bottom half of the Indian Premier League table after losing four out of six games under Ruturaj Gaikwad. Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes this phase may not last long, with new arrival Sanju Samson likely to take over the reins sooner rather than later.
The Chennai franchise, who finished at the bottom of the table last season, briefly turned things around with two consecutive wins. However, they faltered again in pursuit of the 180-plus target, this time against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Their run of high-scoring runs has continued since 2018, with the team repeatedly failing to overhaul such totals.
Gaikwad, who has been handed the captaincy to help transition from the MS Dhoni era, has so far struggled to leave a strong impression. The right-handed batsman has faced constant criticism for his decisions on the field. CSK tried to replace MS Dhoni, who helped the franchise win five IPL titlesreplacing him first with Ravindra Jadeja and then with Gaikwad..
“I’m not an astrologer but I see Sanja captaining CSK at some stage. I don’t know when but I feel it could happen. That said, I wouldn’t want him to step into someone else’s shoes or legacy. He should create his own identity and play his way,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo.
SANJU SAMSON CAPTAIN CSK?
Ravi Ashwin believes Sanju could one day captain CSK, but warned against stepping into someone else’s shoes because of the pressure. (espncricinfo)
pic.twitter.com/ZVNGx55zTP— Sam (@Cricsam01) April 18, 2026
Samson was last seen leading Rajasthan Royals and led them to the final in 2022 where they lost to Gujarat Titans. “When he’s in a good space, he makes very good decisions. He’s had good days and ordinary days, but what stands out is his ability to take feedback. Few captains do that well. He also connects with the players on a personal level, not just a professional level, and that really helps build strong relationships,” added Ashwin.
The Kerala batter has been in sensational form and has been delivering consistent performances for both India and his IPL franchises. “We come from a cricket culture where milestones like 50s and 100s mattered a lot, but T20 is not about individual scores. Now it’s more like football – it’s about impact, attacking, defending and getting results. I think both fans and players are still adjusting to that mindset,” he said.
WITH Ayush Mhatre sidelined due to injuryCSK will hope that Samson will shoulder more responsibility. They next face arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23.
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Published on:
19 Apr 2026 14:57 IST
