Robin Uthappa, a former player for the Chennai Super Kings, believes that the current period represents the perfect opportunity for MS Dhoni to step away from both the franchise and the Indian Premier League. Uthappa cited the ongoing transition within CSK as a key reason why Dhoni’s exit would be timely.
During a discussion, Uthappa detailed how Dhoni’s active role and captaincy duties have diminished over the years. He highlighted that after Ravindra Jadeja relinquished the captaincy, Dhoni took over again, but leadership responsibilities have since been steadily passed on to Ruturaj Gaikwad season by season.
“The transition has been happening gradually,” Uthappa stated. “Since the captaincy went back to him from Jadeja, you’ve seen the responsibilities shift annually. Ruturaj Gaikwad has increasingly taken on more of those duties. Considering the current squad composition, it genuinely feels like the ideal time for Dhoni to make his exit.”
CSK has consistently backed Ruturaj Gaikwad as their captain for the future. However, his initial season at the helm saw the team miss the playoffs, and in IPL 2025, an elbow fracture forced him out mid-tournament. His absence had a profound impact, resulting in CSK finishing last on the points table for the first time in their history.
Evidence of CSK’s forward-thinking approach to leadership has become increasingly apparent. While Dhoni has been the team’s anchor for nearly 18 seasons, management is evidently preparing for a future beyond his playing days. The acquisition of Sanju Samson further supports this, with Samson being widely viewed as the likely successor behind the stumps. In addition to leadership planning, CSK also made significant strategic moves at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, focusing on developing promising uncapped Indian talent. They invested heavily in Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, spending Rs 14.2 crore on each. Veer’s all-round capabilities as a left-arm spinner and batter make him a potential successor to Ravindra Jadeja. Kartik Sharma, recognized as one of the most exciting young wicketkeeper-batsmen in domestic cricket, also attracted substantial interest from other IPL franchises.
The upcoming season will be critical in assessing whether these young players can justify the considerable faith and financial investment placed in them.
