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The pressure is building around Ruturaj Gaikwad after the poor finish of IPL 2026, but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are not ready to hit the panic button just yet. Many cricket experts expect a major leadership change at the Chennai franchise after another disappointing IPL season.
Social media has been flooded with calls to replace Gaikwad as captain, with several backing Sanju Samson as the ideal candidate to take charge of the Chennai Super Kings team in the 2027 season.
Ruturaj Gaikwad faces heat over CSK collapse in IPL 2026
The IPL 2026 season was another disaster for CSK as they managed only six wins from 14 matches and ended the season in eighth place, and once again failed to reach the playoffs. Since winning the IPL trophy under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, the Chennai Super Kings have never made it to the playoffs.
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As results continued to go against them, Gaikwad’s captaincy came under heavy criticism, and many started questioning whether the captaincy burden was affecting his game. He has been unable to play with the same freedom that had made him one of CSK’s most dependable batters.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 337 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 123.44 this season. His cautious starts were questioned more often. As criticism grew, Sanju Samson was tipped to take over as CSK captain. The wicketkeeper-batter arrived at Chennai before the 2026 season and brought with him valuable captaincy experience from his years with the Rajasthan Royals.
No captaincy change! CSK continue to back Ruturaj Gaikwad
Several cricket experts feel Samson is the perfect alternative if CSK ever decides to make a change. But CSK head coach Stephen Fleming defended the captain by saying that the team’s struggles cannot be blamed on one individual.
He added that injuries to key players, constant changes in combinations, and the ongoing transition were the major reasons behind Chennai’s poor campaign.
However, despite all the noise outside the dressing room, the latest developments suggest that CSK have no plans to remove Gaikwad from the captaincy. The franchise is standing firmly behind its young leader and believes he still has the trust of the management.
A Revsportz journalist, Rohit Juglan, posted on X: “No discussions as of now around CSK changing Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain.”
No discussions as of now around CSK changing Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain
— Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) June 1, 2026
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CSK welcomes RCB to the elite IPL club after historic back-to-back title win
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru created history by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the victory, RCB successfully defended their title and became only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back championships after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Soon after the final, Chennai Super Kings congratulated RCB on social media and welcomed them to the exclusive club of teams that have defended the IPL trophy. The gesture caught the attention of fans, as CSK achieved the feat under MS Dhoni by winning consecutive titles in 2010 and 2011. RCB’s latest triumph has now placed them alongside two of the most successful franchises in IPL history.
Winning back to back is always a special feeling. 🏆🏆
Congrats @RCBTweets and welcome to the club 💛#IPL2026— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 31, 2026
