"I don't know how much Stephen Fleming is contributing as coach" - Sanjay Manjrekar suggests changes in CSK's setup after IPL 2026 debacle

Published - 26 May 2026, 16:45 IST | Updated - 26 May 2026, 16:45 IST

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have been unable to reach the playoffs in three consecutive editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting from the 2024 edition, where they finished fifth. Last season, they were at the bottom of the table, and this time, they had to settle for the No. 8 slot.

Sanjay Manjrekar opined that it's not too difficult to decode what has gone wrong for the five-time champions in the last three IPL seasons.

"There are certain things that you have got to do as the right thing. It's time that they did this. One of the things you have got to do, is change things around. It's not like the Titans, where they have had one bad year, CSK have been quiet for a number of years now. The reasons are very obvious. It's not like people are shocked that CSK have become this team or have not made it to the playoffs. It is very easy to see what has changed," Sanjay Manjrekar said on Sportstar.

Firstly, Manjrekar suggested that captaincy could be given to Sanju Samson, and Ruturaj Gaikwad should be allowed to play freely as a batter. The former India cricketer also questioned head coach Stephen Fleming's role, especially with MS Dhoni not being able to play any game this season. Manjrekar urged CSK to shake things up in order to revive their glory days.

"I think the leadership can easily go to Sanju Samson, who's done it before. Just set Ruturaj Gaikwad free and make him the batter that he used to be. I don't know how much Stephen Fleming is contributing as coach, because with Dhoni, everything was in his domain, and Fleming was a great guy to have around. He is a guy who knows his cricket, he is not just there to cosmetic reasons. But it is time to shake up a few things," he added.

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CSK only managed to win six matches this season and lost eight under Gaikwad's reign. The right-handed batter failed to lead from the front, as he had an ordinary season with the bat, where he scored just 337 runs from 14 innings at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.45.