CSK’s Brand Value: Can Ruturaj Gaikwad & Sanju Samson protect Dhoni’s legacy?

The ‘Anbuden’ (term used for CSK’s home ground) is silent, fans dejected, and the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) somewhat colourless, missing a tinge of bright yellow flavour in the ongoing season. Hailed as arguably the most dominant side in the history of the T20 extravaganza, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have endured a tournament to forget, having dropped all three of their matches so far.

The five-time champions are missing the vigour of their glory days in the absence of the man who built the franchise from scratch with his astute leadership, swift glove work and the flamboyant shots on the pitch. All in all, the DNA of the CSK is missing, with MS Dhoni still waiting on the sidelines nursing a calf strain.

In the absence of their guarding angel, his successor, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has also looked out of sorts, being handed the mantle of taking the rich legacy of the CSK forward. Known for their meticulous planning, smart selections, and game awareness, CSK have looked scattered in the ongoing edition, with no one being able to control the damage.

Gaikwad Under Pressure, Samson Yet to Deliver

At the forefront of this annihilation are the two men, who were touted as the future of CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Gaikwad has been groomed as Dhoni’s heir ever since his arrival in 2020 and rose through the ranks to become a vital cog in the team. However, he still seems to be learning the tricks of the trade, captaining in his third season, exacerbated by low returns from his bat.

On the other hand, Sanju Samson has just donned the yellow for the first time this season, after being acquired through the most high-profile player trades in the history of the tournament. CSK let go of their most experienced man after Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, to onboard Samson into the yellow army. 

Being a gloveman with the potential of taking up captaincy duties along with southern roots, Samson was the perfect signing for CSK to strike a chord with the local crowd. However, the beginning has been far from expectations, with a hat-trick of failures from Samson’s bat so far.

Fresh from a Player of the Tournament campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026, Samson was expected to bring a sense of fortune for Chennai and immerse himself in the CSK spirit effortlessly. However, so far, he’s looked like the pale shadow of himself after three successive failures.

From Consistency Kings to Crisis Mode

With nothing going right for CSK on the pitch and the absence of the team’s heartbeat, the franchise risks losing its relevance in the years to come. Ever since the inception of IPL, CSK has built a reputation on consistent performances every season, which saw them finish on the podium more often than not.

An enviable cabinet of joint-most five trophies and a final appearance almost every alternate season — unmatched by any other franchise, ensured that CSK supporters roared the loudest among all the fan groups. While the team missed the playoffs for successive seasons for the first time in their history in 2025, the presence of Dhoni gave the fans something to celebrate.

Fading Empire: Can CSK Arrest the Slide?

However, with the legend set to bid adieu to the game anytime soon, CSK don’t have a mega star to swoon the fans in venues all across the country. Add to that, their diminishing performances every season, which have got them drowning in the puddle of their own making. 

If not already, the alarm bells have begun ringing at their loudest for the oldest rulers of the famed IPL kingdom, and it’s about time they must fall on the ears of the team management. With everything down in the doldrums, a ray of hope must shine upon the CSK empire to prevent it from falling.

The melancholy is gradually pervading all over the Anbuden, and a herculean task awaits Gaikwad and Samson to lift the team at a time when everything seems in disarray.