Chennai Super Kings It was a rough start for them Indian Premier League 2026 campaign, winning just two of their first six matches and slipping to seventh in the points table.Captain Rituraj Gaikwad He has faced increasing criticism not only for the team’s results but also for his struggles with the bat. In six innings, he has scored just 82 runs at an average of 13.67 and a strike rate of 112.33, reflecting his decline in form.
However, the former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrikar Surely the responsibility cannot fall on the young captain alone. Speaking on Sportsstar’s Insight Edge podcast, he hinted at the behind-the-scenes decision-makers.“That blame, I would lay at the doorstep of the owners and the people who make the big decisions. Because Gaekwad, before he was captain, was exceptional at the top of the order,” Manjrekar said.He also suggested that a constant spotlight around MS Dhoni Things are complicated for Gaikwad.“And then that thing with MS Dhoniwhether he is going to play, whether he is going to be captain, they handled it very badly. And this is where you see the boldness of Indian culture that also permeates cricket. I mean, Dhoni doesn’t just have a fan following, there is chatter around him,” he added.Manjrekar backed up his point by recalling a moment from Dhoni’s past that drew a strong reaction from fans.“There was. [this] An example was Dhoni trying to put his bat in the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he’s clearly short of the crease, and he should be run out. He [fans] He got angry with me for saying this because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.Meanwhile, Dhoni is yet to feature in IPL 2026 after sustaining a calf strain before the season.When asked if his return could ease the pressure on Gaekwad, Manjrekar seemed uncertain, questioning how the veteran would fit into the current set-up.“Maybe, but then you have to field Dhoni. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, it’s getting harder to deliver. So when he would go down the order and play only three or four balls, it was a joke. And it continued for four balls.“So it’s not possible now, and it was never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Rotoraj felt when MS was on the field, but not captaining, as opposed to MS not being there and he was completely in charge,” he said.The former cricketer also widened the debate by comparing CSK’s approach with that of Mumbai Indians, suggesting that both franchises may be over-aligned with established stars.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are guilty of being emotionally attached and investing a little too much in big-name, big-brand players. CSK even more so with Dhoni. It means you’re not getting guys who are at their peak. It’s a bit like living in the past. It’s just about getting guys who are the best T20 primers in their modern cricket.” stay
