According to reports in Indian Express, Chennai Super Kings wants to move on from their current head coach Stephen Fleming. However, their veteran MS Dhoni has become a hurdle in the process. As per the reports, a big Indian coach wanted to take over the reins in the previous season after CSK had finished as wooden-spooners but the franchise asked him to wait.

Furthermore, another potential coach didn’t want to take over the coaching baton until MS Dhoni was around. Dhoni seems to have distanced himself from the planning and strategy of the team and he wants to call time on his IPL career on his own terms. 

The report said coaches are likely to feel hesitant and worried about how much control they’d have over the day-to-day of the team with Dhoni’s influence still around.

Meanwhile, Dhoni led CSK in the previous season after Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured. Dhoni didn’t play a single match in the ongoing season as he was ruled out of the first two weeks due to calf injury. 

Subsequently, he aggravated his injury and then also suffered a thumb injury as CSK once again could not qualify for the playoffs. CSK has failed to make it to the last four since then won the title in 2023. Thus, the pressure is piling on Stephen Fleming to deliver the goods for the franchise.

When Gaikwad was asked about Dhoni’s future in the IPL, he said he will get to know about it in the next season.

CSK was knocked out of the playoffs race after they suffered a 89-run loss against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday. 

Many cricket boffins reckon that CSK needs a fresh approach as they are still playing outdated form of T20 cricket. Their batters need to adopt a more aggressive approach and play with more freedom to keep up with other teams in the IPL.