Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised Chennai Super Kings’ leadership and decision-making amid their underwhelming IPL 2026 campaign, arguing that the franchise’s struggles stem from management choices rather than Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form, while also raising concerns about the influence of MS Dhoni’s presence on team dynamics, speaking on Sportstar’s Inside Edge podcast. With CSK managing just two wins in six matches and sitting near the bottom of the table, scrutiny has intensified around both performance and leadership within the setup.
Dhoni uncertainty and ‘sycophancy’ debate
Manjrekar pointed to the prolonged uncertainty around Dhoni’s role as a central issue affecting the team environment, particularly in a season where clarity in leadership has been lacking. He said, “And then that thing with MS Dhoni, whether he’s going to be playing, whether he’s going to be captain, they handled that very badly. And this is where you see the sycophancy of Indian culture that has seeped into cricket as well. I mean, there isn’t just a fan following of Dhoni, there is sycophancy around it.” The veteran wicketkeeper-batter has not featured in the ongoing season due to a calf strain, leaving questions around his eventual return and role unanswered.
Management decisions under scrutiny
While Gaikwad has faced criticism for his returns with the bat, Manjrekar shifted accountability towards those making decisions behind the scenes. He said, “This blame, I’m going to put at the doorstep of the owners and people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he was captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order.” The CSK captain has managed just 82 runs across six innings, averaging 13.67 with a strike rate of 112.33, and has crossed the 25-run mark only once during the campaign.
Questions over Dhoni’s on-field role
Beyond availability, Manjrekar also questioned how Dhoni would fit into the current XI if he returns, particularly given the evolving demands of the T20 format. He said, “Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he’s finding it tough to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to come down the order and just play three or four balls. The coverage would hype that up as well, ‘what an innings’ and it lasted four balls. So that’s not feasible anymore, and it was never going to be a long-term thing.” His remarks highlighted concerns around balancing legacy status with performance-based selection.
Fan reactions and broader cultural impact
Expanding on the influence of Dhoni’s stature, Manjrekar recalled an incident that, in his view, illustrated the intensity of fan sentiment and its effect on discourse. He said, “There was [this] one instance of Dhoni trying to put his bat into the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he is clearly short of the crease, and it should be run-out. They [fans] got angry with me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.” The episode, he suggested, reflects a broader challenge in maintaining objective analysis amid strong emotional attachment.
Strategic concerns extend beyond CSK
Manjrekar widened his critique to include broader team-building approaches within the IPL, arguing that an overreliance on established names can hinder long-term competitiveness. He said, “CSK and Mumbai Indians are slightly guilty of being emotionally connected and invested in the big-name, big-brand players a bit too much. CSK even more so with Dhoni. This means that you’re not getting people who are in their prime. It’s like living in the past a little bit. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s such a modern-day format, so it’s best to be current with everything that you do with your team.” As CSK look to recover their campaign, the balance between legacy and performance remains a defining challenge.
