“What he’s doing?” Sanjay Manjrekar tears apart CSK head coach Stephen Fleming a – Sanjay Manjrekar Calls for Stephen Fleming’s Exit After CSK’s IPL 2026 Struggles
The End of an Era for Stephen Fleming at CSK?
The landscape of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is defined by rapid evolution, and for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the winds of change are blowing harder than ever. Following a dismal performance in the 2026 season, where the franchise finished eighth out of ten teams, former Indian batter and noted analyst Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a significant debate regarding the future of head coach Stephen Fleming.
CSK’s 2026 campaign was a rollercoaster of inconsistency. While they enjoyed a promising mid-season stretch, the team managed only six wins out of 14 matches, bookended by two separate streaks of three consecutive losses. This performance has left fans and critics alike wondering if the coaching staff has lost its touch.
A Pattern of Underperformance
For a franchise as storied as the Chennai Super Kings—a team that boasts five IPL trophies and two Champions League T20 titles under the guidance of Fleming—three consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance is a worrying trend. Manjrekar, in his assessment of the team’s current state, suggests that the decline was not an overnight occurrence but rather a predictable outcome of stagnation.
“There are certain things that you have to do as the right thing. It’s time that they did this. It’s not like the Titans, where they have had one bad year; CSK have been quiet for some years now. The reasons are very obvious,” Manjrekar stated. He emphasized that the team’s failure to qualify for the playoffs for three straight years signals a structural problem that can no longer be ignored.
Questioning the Coaching Philosophy
Stephen Fleming has been the bedrock of the CSK organization since its inception, transitioning from a player in the inaugural season to the longest-serving head coach in the tournament’s history. However, Manjrekar argues that sentimentality should not override the need for results. He specifically raised questions about Fleming’s current tactical influence.
Manjrekar noted that during the tenure of MS Dhoni, the tactical domain was largely managed by the legendary wicket-keeper, with Fleming serving as a steady, supportive presence. Now, however, the dynamic has shifted. Manjrekar questioned the actual contribution of Fleming in the current setup, suggesting that if the tactical edge is missing, the franchise must consider a complete shake-up of its leadership structure.
Leadership and the Future of Ruturaj Gaikwad
The criticism did not stop at the coaching staff; the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad also came under scrutiny. Having led the team for three seasons without reaching the playoffs, Gaikwad is facing mounting pressure. Manjrekar suggested a bold tactical shift: bringing in Sanju Samson to take over the captaincy duties.
“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,” Manjrekar proposed. The rationale is to allow Gaikwad to focus solely on his primary strength—batting—without the burden of leadership that seems to have weighed heavily on him during this three-year dry spell.
The MS Dhoni Factor
The discussion also touched upon the role of MS Dhoni. Manjrekar expressed concern over the franchise’s reliance on their former skipper, suggesting that placing him in an influential role despite him being past his prime has not served the team’s long-term interests. He argued that moving on from established figures is sometimes a painful but necessary step for a franchise to reinvent itself.
As the IPL landscape continues to shift, the Chennai Super Kings find themselves at a crossroads. With calls for the sacking of both the coach and a change in leadership increasing by the day, the management faces a difficult off-season. Whether they choose to stick with the veteran consistency of Stephen Fleming or embrace a fresh start remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the status quo is no longer an option for a team with the pedigree of CSK.
