Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes MS Dhoni could take up a mentorship role at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the 2027 Indian Premier League (IPL) season following major changes to the franchise’s coaching staff.
With captain Ruturaj Gaikwad continuing to lead the side, the working relationship between the leadership group and the new coaching staff will be an important talking point ahead of the next season. “With the new coaching staff, it’ll be interesting to watch the dynamic between Dhoni, Zaheer and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni will likely be the mentor.
Dhoni’s role in the revamped setup will be closely watched, particularly after the veteran wicketkeeper missed the entire 2026 season due to injuries.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said Dhoni could be involved as a mentor and highlighted the potential dynamics between the former CSK captain, Zaheer and Gaikwad. So how Gaikwad works with Zaheer, or whether he goes to Dhoni, will be interesting to see,” Ashwin said.
The Dhoni-Fleming partnership helped CSK win five IPL titles. Fleming played a key role in the coaching setup, adapting his approach to the team’s requirements over the years While Dhoni led the team on the field. “[Fleming] made himself the perfect fingers to fit into Dhoni’s gloves. So it is surprising to see CSK decide that Fleming couldn’t adapt himself to a new captain after two to three years. The franchise has now opted for a new coaching direction with Zaheer’s appointment. The franchise will now look to build its next campaign under Zaheer, with Mohit overseeing the bowling department and Gaikwad leading the team on the field.
Gaikwad took over as CSK captain ahead of the 2024 season, with Fleming continuing as head coach. Dhoni’s involvement, whether as a player or in a mentoring capacity, is likely to remain a key subject of discussion ahead of IPL 2027.
Fleming’s modus operandi is to fit in based on the needs of the team and captain,” Ashwin said.
