Michael Vaughan, Simon Doull flag concern over Ruturaj Gaikwad-Sanju Samson's dynamic: 'He feels threatened'

Adding to Gaikwad’s early-season pressure, Michael Vaughan & Simon Doull have raised questions over his equation with Samson and whether he feels under threat.

Updated on: Apr 4, 2026, 08:00:45 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad finds himself under growing scrutiny after Chennai Super Kings opened their campaign with back-to-back defeats, with the skipper yet to make a meaningful impact with the bat. After ending the previous season at the bottom of the table, CSK came into the Indian Premier League 2026 carrying the weight of expectations to bounce back strongly. However, the early signs haven’t been promising. The bowling attack has looked ineffective and struggled to pick up wickets at key moments, while the much-anticipated opening partnership of Gaikwad and Sanju Samson has failed to click so far, adding to the team’s concerns.

The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn't worked for CSK yet. (PTI)

The arrival of Samson via a trade deal raised plenty of expectations, with the former Rajasthan Royals skipper seen as a long-term successor to MS Dhoni, who is nearing the end of his illustrious career. However, the wicketkeeper batter has also failed to fire in the first two matches. He had a brilliant T20 World Cup, where he played match-winning knocks in every knockout game for India and played a pivotal role in the historic triumph.

Adding another layer to Gaikwad’s early-season pressure, questions have now been raised over his equation with Samson, with Michael Vaughan and Simon Doull weighing in on whether the CSK skipper could feel under threat.

“What about the captain, Gaikwad? Do you think he feels threatened [by Samson]?" Vaughan asked Doull.

“Absolutely," the ex-New Zealand seamer replied.

Continuing the discussion, Vaughan pointed to the delicate situation within Chennai Super Kings, noting how Samson’s arrival could quietly add pressure on skipper Gaikwad, even as the team continues to back him in the role.

“So that’s another kind of dynamic that you’re looking at," Vaughan added. “[One of the league’s] youngest captains Gaikwad, he’s done it a bit now and you kind of go, ‘Go on, we’re gonna back you, you’re the captain. But by the way, we’re signing Sanju, who’s a very good captain and he’s a keeper. And guess what? We’ve had a keeper who was a captain for a long period of time and did very well, and we’re gonna try and replace him. But you carry on captaining and hope it doesn’t affect you," he added.

Also Read - Shreyas Iyer’s punishment doubled by BCCI after PBKS captain refuses to learn from his mistake; teammates also suffer

Tough challenge for Samson

Doull further pointed to the added pressure on Samson following his high-profile move to CSK, stressing the expectations around the trade and the need to step up in familiar conditions.

“Tough challenge for him, and it’s one of those situations you find yourself in when you’re not desperate, but when you want to play for a certain side and you want to put on a show," Doull said before Friday’s match against Punjab Kings. “I mean, he is a South boy, isn’t he? He is a Kerala boy. He wants to put on a show. I think he feels like he’s more at home. In the South, the trade happened; it was a big trade as we’ve talked about, you’ve lost 2 high quality players for one player. So the pressure’s quite enormous, the pressure of maybe what they see him as in the future as well. But he just got to think back to a few weeks ago, doesn’t he? And how was he playing in the last 3 games [in the T20 World Cup]," he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.