Mumbai : Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar has stirred the cricketing circles by claiming that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s continued presence in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) setup is hindering the emergence of new leadership within the team. Bangar, a seasoned coach and analyst, pointed out that the towering influence of Dhoni has cast a shadow over potential successors like Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad, preventing them from growing into confident captains.
Speaking to a sports media outlet, Bangar remarked, “Both Jadeja and Ruturaj have struggled to evolve their own captaincy style. Under Dhoni’s shadow, they tend to imitate his mindset rather than develop their own. This has affected their growth as leaders.”
He further added that while Dhoni’s cricketing intellect and calm demeanor are legendary, the CSK management’s over-dependence on his legacy has led to a lack of autonomy for upcoming leaders. Bangar highlighted how in previous seasons, every time a new captain was appointed, he ended up functioning more as an extension of Dhoni, rather than asserting his own authority.
The criticism gains traction in the wake of CSK’s poor performance in IPL 2025, where the franchise finished at the bottom of the table—a historic low for the five-time champions. Once a team that consistently made playoff appearances, CSK’s recent slide has raised questions about their long-term strategy and succession planning.
Sanjay Bangar’s comments have sparked a broader debate about the importance of leadership transition in franchise cricket and whether CSK needs to truly move forward from the Dhoni era to rebuild effectively. Fans and cricketing experts alike are now waiting to see how the franchise responds in the upcoming seasons, and whether new leaders will finally be given the room to rise.
