Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwari said this Chennai Super Kings Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has done no justice to MS Dhoni in replacing him in the leadership role after the defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chepauk on Monday, May 18. He also supported fellow opener. sanju samson Taking the reins in the future because of his previous leadership experience.
Batting first, the captain played a sluggish inning of 15 runs in 21 balls, helping the team reach 180 for 7 in 20 overs. Tiwary said the responsibilities of being captain have taken a toll on Gaikwad's batting and he needs to go back to the drawing board to understand where to improve. Gaikwad The season was disappointing with the bat, scoring 321 runs in 13 matches at a disappointing strike rate of 120.67.
“You said Ruturaj needs to fill his (Dhoni's) shoes. I think there are no shoes of that size yet. He should focus on building his legacy, and for that, he has to do extensive research on his past matches and identify where he needs to improve, and only then he can prepare to be the captain next season. A captain can only be positive when he is scoring runs himself. But he is not scoring runs. He doesn't have that flow in him. There is a shortage,” Tiwari said. Cricbuzz.
With new star man Samson set to take the field for the Super Kings in 2026, Tiwary believes he can be handed the reins in the future because of his earlier experience as Rajasthan Royals captain. Samson has scored 477 runs at a strike rate of 166.20, which includes two brilliant centuries in wins against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians respectively.
“Let's see if he remains the captain next season, because I think Samson is in the field. And that would be a good decision too. If Chennai brings him in for some particular reason, they might look at him as a leader. Gaikwad has been the captain for two seasons, and that's why he has extended that period this season. But Samson can be the captain next year. No matter where they finish, they have to take a decision, and Samson is the best person because he Has also led RR and is a good batsman as well,” he said.
Can win matches even without MS Dhoni: Manoj Tiwari
Tiwary further said that the Super Kings have found a winning formula to rely on even in the absence of the talisman ms dhoni. The great wicketkeeper is yet to play in the 2026 season due to a calf injury. He led the Super Kings to five titles and played a key role in all five through his leadership and contributions with the bat and behind the stumps. Now Tiwary believes that he has to build a team that can maximize the match-winners he has in his team.
He said, “At the moment, we know that CSK can win matches without Dhoni, but if they change captain, wicketkeeper, no one can replace his absence on the field. But rest assured, it has been confirmed that they can win matches without him. Now they need to think about how to build the team.”
The five-time champions conclude their campaign against Gujarat Titans on May 21 in Ahmedabad. They still have a glimmer of hope to qualify for the playoffs, but with much dependent on the results of other teams, it will require a miracle.
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