As Chennai Super Kings (CSK) prepare for the 2026 IPL, former India player Mohammad Kaif has made a controversial comment about the team’s captaincy. He said that even though Ruturaj Gaikwad has been officially retained as the captain, Dhoni’s dominance on and off the field continues, and Ruturaj is just a ‘paper’ captain.
Amidst the challenges faced by CSK in the 2025 IPL season, the departure of Rudra Raj halfway through due to injury, and the arrival of Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals, there are ongoing discussions about Dhoni’s true role.
Former India cricketer made huge claim on CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad before IPL 2026
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif stressed that Dhoni’s role is much more than just being an ‘impact’ player. “Dhoni doesn’t play to bat anymore. He plays to keep wickets for 20 overs and captain for 20 overs. He is there to guide the players. He is a mentor to Rudraj Gaikwad. He plays only to be a mentor and a captain,” Kaif said.
Kaif further stated, “On paper, Ruturaj Gaikwad may be the captain, but as long as Dhoni is on the field, everything is under his control. There is no doubt about what he is doing. So, I don’t think he will play as an ‘impact’ player. Either he will play fully or he will withdraw from the game, but there is no chance of him being an ‘impact’ player.”
Before the 2026 IPL auction, CSK bought the team’s captain and wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson, who was traded to Rajasthan Royals for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Despite bringing in an experienced IPL captain like Samson, the team management retained Rudraj Gaikwad as the captain. Kaif believes that this could be due to the fact that Dhoni wants to lead CSK.