Chennai: It has been a disappointing start to the new IPL season for Chennai Super Kings. The team lost all their first three matches—by 8 wickets to Rajasthan Royals, 5 wickets to Punjab Kings, and by 43 runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. These defeats have put not only captain Ruturaj Gaikwad under pressure but also Malayali star Sanju Samson.

Sanju, who moved to Chennai from Rajasthan, has been facing heavy criticism for his poor form. His performances so far have been underwhelming—scoring just 6 runs against Rajasthan, 7 against Punjab, and 9 against Bengaluru. He has failed to reach double digits in any of the three matches. Despite being a T20 World Cup player, fans are disappointed that he has not lived up to expectations.

Many believe Sanju needs to regain the confidence he showed during the T20 World Cup. Apart from his lack of form, fans are also questioning his on-field attitude. Some feel he appears disinterested and lacks energy on the field. As a result, there are calls for him to step aside for a few matches.

“If you are not mentally ready, take a break for a few games. It’s not just about runs—your body language shows lack of interest. Whenever the camera is on you, you look disappointed and uncomfortable. Honestly, I’ve never even seen you smile. Where is your passion?” a fan wrote on X.

Meanwhile, consecutive defeats have also raised questions about Gaikwad’s captaincy. Some, including former players, suggest that the presence of an experienced player and former captain like Sanju could pose a challenge to Gaikwad. Discussions around his leadership began after Chennai lost their opening matches of the season.

At the same time, fans are actively debating whether Sanju could be the team’s future captain. Chennai acquired him through a trade deal ahead of the last auction.

Sanju Samson has been leading Rajasthan since 2021 and even guided the team to the final that year. Ruturaj Gaikwad, on the other hand, has been a key player for Chennai since 2019, when he was bought for ₹20 lakh. He was retained for ₹6 crore ahead of the 2022 season and, two years later, was appointed captain.