Former India skipper Kris Srikkanth said that MS Dhoni controlled the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during Stephen Fleming’s 17-year association with the franchise as head coach. Chennai and Fleming have parted ways after a dismal performance in IPL 2026, ending the most successful partnership in the league’s history.

The Men in Yellow won the IPL title five times and made it to the playoffs in 12 seasons, including 10 finals.

While lauding Fleming’s contributions, Srikkanth claimed that Dhoni was the main architect of the team’s dominance.

“Stephen Fleming deserves praise for his impressive track record in the IPL. However, CSK is controlled by MS Dhoni at the end of the day. It was Dhoni’s 11 that would take the field in any match. It was never about Fleming. He was a man manager, whose job was to keep the players in the right frame of mind,” he said.

“When CSK returned to the IPL in 2018, everyone counted the franchise out.

It was because of Dhoni that they won the IPL. No credit should be given to Fleming. But even the man management is important in the dressing room, and Fleming did his job perfectly,” he added.

Dhoni and Fleming’s partnership from 2009 to 2023 saw CSK winning five titles. Fleming was a part of the franchise as a player in 2008 before he started his coaching stint.

“Stephen Fleming messes up with the combination of the team in the last three years”: K Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth believes the team’s performance and auction buys in the last three years led to Stephen Fleming’s departure.

After failing to qualify for the playoffs twice from 2008 to 2023, the Chennai Super Kings failed to be among the top four franchises in three consecutive seasons from 2024 to 2026.

“Stephen Fleming messed up with the team combination in the auction. He started buying New Zealand players, and there was no need to do that. If their combination were right, CSK would have performed well in the last three seasons,” he said.

“Without Dhoni, there is no Fleming, and there is nothing wrong with highlighting this fact. Fleming has struggled elsewhere without Dhoni’s presence.

He couldn’t do anything even when Dhoni was not the captain. Having said all that, you can’t ignore Fleming’s achievements with CSK. It is the right decision for CSK and Fleming as everyone was questioning his presence in the dugout.”

Fleming will not coach the two other Super Kings franchises – Texas Super Kings and Joburg Super Kings.