Former Chennai Super Kings stalwart Robin Uthappa has expressed his belief that MS Dhoni’s departure from CSK and the IPL is imminent and, more importantly, that the current juncture is the most appropriate time for it. Uthappa emphasizes that the franchise is already deeply immersed in a transition period, making Dhoni’s exit a logical next step.
Uthappa elaborated on his assessment, explaining that Dhoni’s direct involvement and leadership roles within the CSK setup have seen a consistent decline over the years. He specifically referenced the period when Dhoni reclaimed the captaincy from Ravindra Jadeja, noting that leadership authority has been systematically transferred to Ruturaj Gaikwad with each subsequent season.
“His role hasn’t dramatically changed because this transition has been in progress for some time,” Uthappa noted. “Ever since the captaincy was passed back to him from Ravindra Jadeja, you could observe the responsibilities shifting annually. More and more has moved towards Ruturaj Gaikwad each season. Given the current state of the squad, it truly feels like the right moment for Dhoni to step away.”
CSK has demonstrated its confidence in Ruturaj Gaikwad as their long-term captaincy choice. Despite a difficult inaugural season for Gaikwad as skipper, which saw the team miss the playoffs, and a mid-tournament elbow fracture in IPL 2025 that sidelined him, the franchise appears steadfast in its support. Gaikwad’s absence had a substantial negative effect on the team’s performance, leading to CSK’s unprecedented finish at the bottom of the league standings in IPL 2025.
Signs pointing towards a leadership evolution at CSK have become increasingly visible. While Dhoni has been the undisputed core of the franchise for approximately 18 seasons, the team’s management is clearly preparing for a future without his on-field presence. This strategic foresight was further highlighted by the trade for Sanju Samson, who is widely expected to take over the wicketkeeping duties following Dhoni’s eventual retirement. Complementing the focus on future leadership, CSK also made significant strategic acquisitions at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, heavily investing in promising uncapped Indian talent. The franchise secured Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for substantial sums of Rs 14.2 crore each. Veer is viewed as a potential successor to Ravindra Jadeja, owing to his proficiency as a left-arm spinner and a left-handed batter. Kartik Sharma, regarded as one of the most talented young wicketkeeper-batsmen in the domestic circuit, also attracted considerable interest from multiple IPL teams.
It remains to be seen how effectively these young talents will perform and justify the significant investment as the tournament unfolds.