Overview
- Chennai Super Kings finished eighth in IPL 2026, marking a third consecutive season (2024–2026) without a playoff berth and six wins from 14 matches.
- MS Dhoni did not play a single match in the 2026 tournament because of a persistent calf strain followed by a thumb issue, and the club says any change to his role is for him to decide.
- Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar publicly questioned head coach Stephen Fleming’s recent contribution and urged CSK to ‘shake up’ the setup, including proposing Sanju Samson as a possible captain.
- CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan denied talks with Rahul Dravid about the head-coach job and said the franchise has not yet taken any cricketing decisions and will review matters at a later stage.
- Fleming’s long record of success with CSK — five IPL titles and two CLT20 trophies — and his wider Super Kings coaching duties complicate any immediate change and mean the club is likely to consult Dhoni before any final call.