Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes MS Dhoni could take on a mentorship role with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2027. Ashwin also said it would be interesting to watch how captain Ruturaj Gaikwad works with Dhoni and newly appointed head coach Zaheer Khan next season.
CSK have begun a major transition after missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The franchise finished eighth in IPL 2026 after winning just six of their 14 matches, following a last-place finish in 2025. The coaching changes have raised questions about Dhoni’s future role and Gaikwad’s leadership.
Ravichandran Ashwin Questions CSK’s Decision to Part Ways With Stephen Fleming
CSK parted ways with long-time head coach Stephen Fleming after a disappointing 2026 campaign. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said Fleming had adapted his coaching style to complement MS Dhoni’s leadership during their successful partnership.
"Fleming seemingly modified himself to fit in with Dhoni. He made himself the perfect fingers to fit into Dhoni's gloves. So it is surprising to see CSK decide that Fleming couldn't adapt himself to a new captain after two to three years. Fleming's modus operandi is to fit in based on the needs of the team and captain," Ashwin said.
CSK won all five of their IPL titles with Dhoni as captain and Fleming as head coach. Gaikwad took over the captaincy ahead of IPL 2024. However, CSK have struggled to regain their previous consistency, missing the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.
Ravichandran Ashwin Discusses the Dhoni-Zaheer-Gaikwad Leadership Dynamic
Ravichandran Ashwin believes MS Dhoni has played a central role in CSK’s recent coaching changes. The franchise appointed Zaheer Khan as head coach ahead of IPL 2027 and also brought in former India pacer Mohit Sharma as bowling coach.
"With the new coaching staff, it'll be interesting to watch the dynamic between Dhoni, Zaheer and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni will likely be the mentor. So how Gaikwad works with Zaheer, or whether he goes to Dhoni, will be interesting to see."
"It is clear that Dhoni is doing all the decision-making in terms of the new coaches. However, we can't be certain that by changing the coaches, CSK's fortunes will change."
Zaheer played alongside MS Dhoni for India, and the pair were part of the team that won the 2011 ODI World Cup. Mohit also played under him at CSK between 2013 and 2015, as well as in 2019.
MS Dhoni’s IPL 2027 Playing Future Remains Uncertain
MS Dhoni’s role in IPL 2027 remains unclear, with questions over whether he will return to the field or take on a mentorship role. He missed the entire 2026 season despite remaining part of the CSK squad, with calf, hamstring and thumb injuries keeping him out. He will be close to 46 during the next season.
Dhoni has played 278 IPL matches, scoring 5,439 runs at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 half-centuries. His experience remains valuable to the franchise, but CSK must also plan their retentions around their younger players.
With young players such as Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer also in their plans, CSK will need to manage their retention slots and auction purse carefully. Whether the veteran returns to the field or works behind the scenes alongside Zaheer remains one of the key questions ahead of IPL 2027.
