Ravichandran Ashwin feels that Zaheer Khan's arrival as CSK's new head coach could trigger a leadership change, with Sanju Samson emerging as a strong contender to take over the captaincy from Ruturaj Gaikwad.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Ravichandran Ashwin believes that with Zaheer Khan as CSK's new coach, Sanju Samson could become the new skipper.

• Samson had a terrific run in the 2026 IPL season, scoring 477 runs at an average of 47.70.

• In comparison, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored just 337 runs at a disappointing average of 24.07, with the team missing out on the playoffs once again.

Zaheer Khan's appointment as Chennai Super Kings' new head coach has already sent ripples through the cricketing world. The former Indian pacer, who previously worked with Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, has been brought in on a one-year contract after Stephen Fleming's long stint with the franchise came to an end.

While most experts are busy debating how the five-time champions will fare under an Indian coach, Ravichandran Ashwin has a completely different take on things. The former India star believes Sanju Samson might just edge ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad for the CSK captaincy in the coming season.

Samson, fresh off a stunning campaign with Team India where he almost single-handedly powered them to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, could be exactly what CSK needs at the helm. According to Ashwin, Zaheer's arrival brings a new leadership dynamic to the table, and the franchise might be open to rethinking its captaincy structure.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "It will be interesting to see if Zaheer Khan wants Ruturaj Gaikwad to remain captain or wants a change in leadership." He further revealed that Samson is already being talked about as one of the frontrunners for the top job, given his exceptional form both in domestic cricket and on the international stage.

"If what I am hearing is right, it looks like Sanju Samson might have a good shot at becoming captain. I am hearing that Sanju could get a chance at captaincy. But I don't know how true it is," Ashwin noted.

Gaikwad, who took over the reins in IPL 2024, has been under increasing pressure after managing just 14 wins from 33 matches as captain. Whether Zaheer and MS Dhoni decide to back Gaikwad or make the switch to Samson is shaping up to be one of the biggest storylines ahead of the next IPL season. Honestly, it might even work in Gaikwad's favour.

Think about it: Gaikwad was handed the captaincy because of his incredible performances, not because he was a natural leader. Back in IPL 2023, he piled up 590 runs in 16 matches at an average of 42.14, playing a massive role in CSK's record fifth title win against Gujarat Titans. For a while, it seemed like captaincy was actually helping him, as he followed it up with 583 runs in the 2024 season. But that spark faded quickly; injuries derailed him last season, and 2026 turned out to be just as forgettable.

With three straight seasons of missing the playoffs, the captaincy has become an unnecessary weight on Gaikwad's shoulders as he tries to rediscover his best form. In that sense, handing the captaincy to Samson could actually free him up to focus purely on his batting.

Samson has already proven he can lead, having captained Rajasthan Royals with distinction. And Gaikwad's finest moments have come when he's simply been CSK's best top-order batsman, not their skipper. If Zaheer Khan can bring these two pieces together, Chennai might just find their way back to the throne as the undisputed kings of the IPL.