Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has reaffirmed his confidence in Ruturaj Gaikwad as the franchise's long-term captain, even as he acknowledged that the opener has fallen well short of his own batting standards in IPL 2026. The endorsement came after CSK suffered a five-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Monday, 19 May, a result that all but confirmed the five-time champions will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Fleming's Assessment of Gaikwad's Batting

Fleming was candid about the gap between Gaikwad's current output and his career benchmarks. 'I think Ruturaj can do more,' the coach said. 'He's done more in the past. He's been a fine player at the top. He hasn't produced the quantity of runs and the pace of runs this season that he's done in his career. And that's something that he will address.'

Gaikwad's struggles were on full display against SRH, where he managed just 9 runs off 11 balls at the end of the powerplay — a tempo that again invited scrutiny over whether his naturally measured approach fits the increasingly aggressive demands of modern T20 cricket. This is not an isolated concern; his scoring rate has been a recurring talking point throughout the tournament.

The Captaincy Transition from Dhoni

Fleming contextualised Gaikwad's leadership development within what he described as a significant transition for the franchise following years under MS Dhoni. 'It's a big transition from having one of the best captains in the cricket scene running the franchise for such a long time to a new captain. So it's going to take a little bit of time,' he said.

Fleming also noted the contrast with last season, when Gaikwad was sidelined by injury and missed IPL 2025 entirely. 'This year, at least, he was here the whole time. Last year, he wasn't here at all. So it would be unfair to judge that. But, yeah, there's been a lot of work done behind the scenes as we learn about this group of players,' the coach added.

Despite the on-field setbacks, Fleming expressed firm belief in Gaikwad's leadership trajectory. 'He has a massive amount of respect for this group of players. And he's learning all the time and putting that into play. So going forward, I have no doubt he'll be a fine captain for this franchise,' he said.

Dhoni's Presence and Future

MS Dhoni was present at the stadium on match day for the first time this season, a development that drew considerable attention. However, Fleming offered little clarity on the legendary wicketkeeper-batter's future with the franchise. 'No, we're working through this one,' he said when asked whether discussions had taken place regarding Dhoni's involvement next season. Fleming did note that Dhoni's presence around the squad this year had been significant despite his not playing. 'He's been a big part — he hasn't played, but he's still had a big influence on the team,' Fleming said.

Fleming's Own Future and the Season's Positives

Fleming acknowledged that CSK's third consecutive playoff miss would naturally prompt questions about his own tenure as head coach, but deferred to the management on any decision. 'I'd say it's a choice for the management. I know there's been a lot of talk about it,' he said. 'So, yeah, it's the management's call, not mine.'

Amid the disappointment, Fleming pointed to the emergence of young talent as a meaningful silver lining. 'We've introduced some new players that will be hopefully generation players for CSK,' he said, framing the season as a necessary — if painful — rebuilding phase. With one league match remaining, CSK's focus will likely shift quickly to planning for the next cycle.