Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Ramesh urges Sanju Samson for CSK captaincy after Gaikwad season
Chennai Super Kings had a difficult cricket season in 2026.
The team missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was the captain and also had a disappointing season with the bat.
Former cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh said CSK should think about changing captains.
He suggested Sanju Samson for the job.
Samson has already captained many IPL matches.
He won 33 of his 66 matches as captain.
However, Ramesh said changing the captain alone would not guarantee a trophy.
CSK has not confirmed that Samson will become captain.
Sadagoppan Ramesh urged Chennai Super Kings to consider Sanju Samson as captain.
Ruturaj Gaikwad led CSK to an ordinary IPL 2026 season, with 337 runs at an average of 28.
CSK missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
Ramesh cited Samson’s 33 wins in 66 IPL matches as captain, a 50% success rate.
Samson joined CSK after being traded from Rajasthan Royals, prompting speculation about a leadership change.
- Who
- Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh suggested Sanju Samson as a possible Chennai Super Kings captain, replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad.
- What
- Ramesh called for a CSK captaincy change after the team’s poor recent results and recommended Samson.
- When
- The discussion followed the Indian Premier League 2026 season and concerned the upcoming season.
- Where
- Ramesh made the comments in a video on his Instagram handle.
- Why
- CSK missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, while Gaikwad faced criticism for his 2026 performance.
Supporters of a Change
Continuity and Caution
Whether CSK should change captains
Supporters of a Change
Sadagoppan Ramesh said CSK’s captaincy must be changed and that Sanju Samson should be seriously considered.
Continuity and Caution
The article says CSK is known for stability and is not a team that makes knee-jerk decisions; no captaincy change has been confirmed.
Samson’s suitability
Supporters of a Change
Ramesh called Samson a fantastic team player and pointed to his 33 wins in 66 IPL matches as captain, along with Rajasthan Royals’ final and playoff appearances under him.
Continuity and Caution
Ramesh also cautioned that appointing Samson alone would not win CSK the trophy and said several other changes would be needed.
Gaikwad’s role
Supporters of a Change
Subramaniam Badrinath said removing Gaikwad from captaincy could help him perform better as a batter and benefit both the player and franchise.
Continuity and Caution
Gaikwad’s replacement remains speculation, and the reports do not state that CSK has decided to remove him.
- Team
- Chennai Super Kings
- Current captain
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Suggested captain
- Sanju Samson
- Gaikwad’s IPL 2026 figures
- 337 runs at an average of 28
- CSK playoff record
- Missed the playoffs for three successive seasons
- Samson’s captaincy record
- 33 wins in 66 IPL matches, described as a 50% success rate
- Samson’s previous team
- Rajasthan Royals
