Ravichandran Ashwin believes Chennai Super Kings should look closely at MS Dhoni if the franchise wants a successor to Stephen Fleming as head coach.
CSK and Fleming have mutually parted ways, ending an association that began in the first IPL season. Fleming played for the team in 2008 and became head coach in 2009. His long spell on the coaching staff made him one of the most familiar figures in the Chennai set-up.
Ashwin, a former CSK and India spinner, said the franchise has reached a point where it must plan beyond Fleming. He felt Dhoni would be the strongest option if he is prepared to take up the coaching job.
Ashwin backs Dhoni for CSK role
Ashwin said Dhoni’s understanding of CSK makes him a natural candidate. He pointed to the long working relationship between Dhoni and Fleming, which shaped many years of the franchise’s decision-making.
“Fleming really understood what ticked [MS] Dhoni, and Dhoni understood that Fleming was a great lieutenant, and that partnership carried on for such a long time. I would say it was about time Chennai Super Kings looked beyond,” Ashwin said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
He added that if Dhoni agrees to become coach, CSK would not need to look much further.
“If Dhoni is willing to do that [take over as coach], there is no better person that Chennai Super Kings can go after. If not, they need to find someone who will be able to operate independently and take accountability for his or her own actions,” Ashwin said.
Why the next coach could face a difficult entry
Ashwin also raised a practical point about the next coach. He said anyone entering the CSK dressing room would have to work in a setting where Dhoni remains a major presence in discussions around the squad and team selection.
According to Ashwin, that could create uncertainty for a new coach unless the role is clearly defined. His view was that CSK either need Dhoni himself in the coaching role, or someone strong enough to make decisions independently.
“I think there is a small aspect of uncertainty for anybody who will walk into that dressing room. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a huge name, and he’s still very much a part of the discussion when you’re talking about a squad that will be picked to play,” Ashwin added.
The comment reflects the unusual nature of CSK’s transition. Fleming has been a constant figure for the franchise for most of its IPL history, while Dhoni has also been central to the team’s identity and cricket choices across the same period.
Fleming’s record with Chennai Super Kings
Fleming’s time with CSK brought consistent results. Under him, Chennai Super Kings won five IPL titles and two Champions League Twenty20 tournaments.
The team also reached the IPL playoffs 12 times and played 10 IPL finals during his tenure. Those numbers explain why the end of the Fleming-CSK partnership is a major change for the franchise, even without adding any uncertainty about who comes next.
For Ashwin, the key question is whether CSK want continuity through Dhoni or a new coach with enough independence to run the dressing room on clear terms. His comments place the focus on planning, authority and the balance of influence inside one of the IPL’s most closely watched teams.
Source: The Hindu Cricket.