- 06 Jun, 2026
"Sanju Samson Could Be Captain Next Year": Manoj Tiwary Urges CSK to Replace Gaikwad After Another Playoff Miss
CSK lost another important match. This was the game that could keep them alive strongly in the top four race. But once again, the result did not go in their favor. Now the team has only very small chances left in the league. Experts are questioning leadership.
Manoj Tiwary urges CSK to replace Gaikwad. He thinks that the team needs a fresh leader now. The statement quickly went viral among fans. Some agreed with him, while others still backed Gaikwad.
Why Manoj Tiwary Urges CSK to Replace Gaikwad
CSK’s campaign this year never really found momentum. The batting looked inconsistent. Bowlers leaked runs in pressure overs. The team failed to dominate matches like earlier.
Manoj Tiwary openly spoke in the post-match discussion. He talked about Gaikwad’s captaincy and batting. He thinks replacing Dhoni is not easy. But he said that there were enough opportunities.
According to him, the team now needs fresh thinking.
Tiwary's View on Gaikwad's Leadership
Tiwary said that Dhoni built a special system in Chennai over many years. Managing pressure there is completely different from leading any other side. The expectations are huge. Every decision gets noticed.
He felt Gaikwad still looked uncomfortable at times while handling tough moments.
The former player also mentioned that the opener should focus more on improving his own batting and building his personal legacy first. Captaincy pressure, according to him, has affected his natural game.
He added that:
- Gaikwad has already captained for two seasons
- The team failed to dominate under him
- CSK may miss the playoffs again
- Leadership changes are common in franchise cricket
That is one major reason why Manoj Tiwary urges CSK to replace Gaikwad before next season begins.
Why Samson Looks Perfect for CSK
Tiwary also gave a surprising replacement option.
He said Sanju Samson could fit perfectly into the CSK setup. According to him, the franchise earlier had one big fear. Whether the team could win after Dhoni or not. But now that phase is already changing slowly.
So the next requirement is a proper long-term captain.
Samson, according to Tiwary, already has leadership experience. He has been the captain for multiple seasons. He understands pressure situations well and knows how to handle young players, too.
He also pointed out that Samson plays attacking cricket but still stays calm during close finishes. That quality suits Chennai’s style.
This is why Manoj Tiwary urges CSK to replace Gaikwad and consider Samson for the leadership role in the future.
Gaikwad As Captain in IPL
Gaikwad’s captaincy journey has remained mixed till now. Taking charge after a legendary leader like Dhoni was always going to be difficult. Every captain would struggle under that pressure. But results have also not fully supported him.
The team’s performance under his leadership:
- Matches: 30
- Won: 14
- Lost: 18
- Success Rate: 41.14%
The numbers clearly show inconsistency.
Many fans also feel his batting changed after becoming a full-time skipper. Earlier, he looked free-flowing and confident. Now, sometimes he appears too cautious at the start.
In pressure games, his decision-making has also been questioned. Bowling changes, field placements, and middle-over strategies often became discussion points after losses.
Still, there are supporters who believe captaincy needs time. They argue that even Dhoni did not build a champion team overnight. But criticism continues growing because CSK standards are extremely high.
That is why the topic keeps trending whenever Manoj Tiwary urges CSK to replace Gaikwad in discussions.
😊🤝 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/cD4qCSpC0P
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 20, 2026
🚨 Huge Drama sympathy of Sanju Samson.
— Fire Bender 🐉 (@firebender007) May 19, 2026
Look at sanju carefully, he clearly exchanged words while Klassen leaving 🤨 Not expected this behaviour from worldcup winner sanju !
This CSK team deserves every bit of ishan’s celebration#CSKvsSRH #SRHvsCSK #ishankishan #dhoni #thala… pic.twitter.com/b7jz4uT0UT
CSK in IPL 2026
For CSK, this season has simply not gone according to plan. The side struggled to maintain consistency from the opening phase. Some matches were lost from winning positions. In other games, the batting collapsed badly under pressure.
Their middle order looked unstable for most of the tournament. Bowling also failed to control death overs regularly. Injuries and form issues further complicated things. Because of this, the team now depends heavily on other results for survival.
Even if they somehow stay alive mathematically, qualification looks very difficult now. Some major problems for CSK this season:
- Slow starts in power play
- Middle-order inconsistency
- Death bowling struggles
- Pressure on senior players
- Over-dependence on a few batters
The franchise still has a strong fanbase and quality players. But changes may come before next season.
Many experts now believe the management could rethink leadership structure completely. And because of that, discussions around Samson continue to increase.
Meanwhile, fans are also searching for more updates and reactions through the Khelstake official platform, where cricket discussions and league stories stay active throughout the season.
As the tournament progresses, teams will be looking to build momentum and strengthen their chances of lifting the trophy. In fact, if you’re wondering which side has the best shot at going all the way this season, check out our detailed analysis on why Royal Challengers Bengaluru could successfully defend their IPL title. It gives deeper insights into their squad strength, key players, and winning strategy for IPL 2026.
Final Say
CSK entering the transition phase was always expected after Dhoni’s era slowly moved towards ending. But nobody thought the process would become this difficult.
Gaikwad remains a talented batter and still has a long future ahead. However, captaincy pressure has clearly become a major talking point now. That is exactly why Manoj Tiwary urges CSK to replace Gaikwad.
For now, CSK still has slim playoff hopes alive. But bigger questions about leadership and future planning have already started.
Fans can continue following all major IPL stories, transfer talks, and cricket discussions through the Khelstake official platform during the remainder of the season.
FAQs
- Why does Tiwary want to replace Gaikwad?
Ans: He believes CSK has not performed consistently under him. The team needs a new captain.
- Who did Manoj Tiwary suggest as the next CSK captain?
Ans: Tiwary suggested Sanju Samson could become a strong captaincy option for Chennai in the future.
- What is Gaikwad’s captaincy record in IPL?
Ans: Gaikwad has won 14 matches and lost 18 as captain so far.
- Is CSK still alive in the playoff race?
Ans: Yes, but their chances are now very small, and they depend on other results too.
- Where can I follow more IPL discussions and updates?
Ans: You can explore more cricket stories and league updates on the Khelstake official platform.
RECENT POSTS
Menu Home About Us Strategies Rewards Skills FAQ Blogs Why the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026...
Menu Home About Us Strategies Rewards Skills FAQ Blogs Young Star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Targets...
Menu Home About Us Strategies Rewards Skills FAQ Blogs ‘Great Ambassador After Kohli’:...
Menu Home About Us Strategies Rewards Skills FAQ Blogs RCB’s Dream Run Continues: Back-to-Back IPL...
Menu Home About Us Strategies Rewards Skills FAQ Blogs KKR vs DC IPL 2026: Kuldeep Yadav’s...
