Chennai Super Kings have had a poor start to the 2026 IPL season. The team, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, has yet to taste victory in the 19th edition of the tournament. They have suffered defeats in both of their opening matches. The five-time champions were first beaten by the Rajasthan Royals, and on Friday, they suffered another loss—this time at their home ground—at the hands of the Punjab Kings.
A Perceived Threat
During a discussion on Cricbuzz, former England captain Michael Vaughan and former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull suggested that Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad might feel “threatened” by Sanju Samson. Sanju Samson has previously served as the captain of the Rajasthan Royals.
Sanju captained Rajasthan from 2021 to 2025. Prior to the 2026 IPL season, Chennai acquired him from RR via a trade. Vaughan asked Doull, “Do you think Ruturaj Gaikwad feels threatened by Sanju Samson?” To this, Doull replied, “Absolutely.”
A Good Captain and Wicketkeeper
Vaughan remarked, “This is a unique situation that demands attention. Gaikwad—one of the youngest captains in the league—has only captained a handful of matches so far. You think to yourself, ‘Okay, we’ll back you; you are the captain. But we are signing Sanju, who happens to be a very good captain and wicketkeeper.’ And guess what? We’ve just had a wicketkeeper who served as captain for a long time and performed exceptionally well. Now, we are bringing in someone else to fill that role. You just keep captaining and hope that it doesn’t affect you.”
Sanju’s Bat Remains Silent
Wearing the yellow jersey, Sanju has been unable to replicate the form he displayed while wearing the blue jersey. The wicketkeeper-batter, who played crucial innings during the 2026 T20 World Cup, has had a quiet run with the bat in his first two matches. Against the Rajasthan Royals, Sanju scored 6 runs off 7 balls; meanwhile, against the Punjab Kings, he played an innings of 7 runs off 7 balls. Doell believes that for Samson to cement his place in the ‘Yellow Jersey’ squad, he needs to recapture the confidence he displayed during the T20 World Cup.
He is a Player from Kerala
Doell remarked, “This is a tough challenge for him. It is one of those situations you find yourself stuck in—when you aren’t desperate, but simply want to play for a specific team and showcase your flair. After all, he is a player from the South; he is a boy from Kerala. He wants to make his mark. I feel he feels much more at ease there. In the trade, Chennai lost two of their own players in exchange for just one player. Consequently, the pressure is immense. He needs to cast his mind back a few weeks and reflect on how he performed in the final three matches of the 2026 T20 World Cup.”
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