Stephen Fleming declared useless without MS Dhoni amid IPL 2026: “He is five steps behind”
Former Indian batter Sadagoppan Ramesh believes that CSK head coach Stephen Fleming has never had any success if he is not hinged alongside the former Indian skipper MS Dhoni. This seems a massive claim, discrediting his efforts behind CSK's success.
Amid the poor form for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, they are placed in the last position on the IPL points table with a hat-trick of losses. A significant absentee on the side is veteran wicket-keeper batter, MS Dhoni.
He was not part of the side due to an injury that he suffered ahead of the start of the IPL season. However, the Ruturaj Gaikwad and Stephen Fleming pair have not produced the desired effect needed to win the games.
"It's clear that Fleming's success hinges completely on Dhoni" - Sadagoppan Ramesh
Former Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh has made a massive claim, discrediting Stephen Fleming for all the success he has attained with the Chennai Super Kings. The legendary Kiwi captain has been with CSK's head coach since 2009, and MS Dhoni has been the skipper till 2023.
"Stephen Fleming has never had any success anywhere without Dhoni captaining the side. It's clear that Fleming's success hinges completely on Dhoni," Sadagoppan Ramesh said on his Instagram handle.
"With the way the game is evolving, just like how a player's fit is analysed, the coach must be given the same treatment. Stephen Fleming doesn't seem to have the mindset to adapt to today's aggressive game. He seems to be five steps behind," he added.
Stephen Fleming has not won a single trophy without MS Dhoni
The Chennai Super Kings went on to win a total of five IPL trophies, the first coming back in 2010 under MS Dhoni's leadership. He was the first skipper to have led a franchise to consecutive wins in the IPL, winning it again in 2011.
They won the third title in 2018, when they became the second franchise to have done so after the Mumbai Indians. This was CSK's comeback season, ending a two-year ban from the IPL. The next two trophies came under Dhoni's captaincy back in 2021 and 2023.
However, Dhoni relinquished captaincy ahead of IPL 2024, and since then, CSK has failed to make it to the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. Stephen Fleming, who has led the Super Kings coaching unit in the MLC and the SA20, has neither won a trophy nor had very successful seasons with franchises like Texas and Joburg Super Kings.
Ruturaj Gaikwad should revive his batting form to excel as a captain
CSK are off to a dreadful start in the ongoing IPL 2026, losing the first three matches of their campaign. Sadagoppan Ramesh urged skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad to rediscover his batting form so that he could win matches single-handedly for CSK, thus changing his fortunes as a captain.
"You don't need experience to smash fours and sixes. But you need experience to stop boundaries, which CSK's bowling lacks. Yet, to help himself as captain, Ruturaj must start scoring runs. By doing that and singlehandedly winning CSK matches, things can start to turn around for him as captain," said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).
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