Despite a massively disappointing campaign in UAE, former India batsman Gautam Gambhir says, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if Chennai Super Kings (CSK) continue with MS Dhoni as their skipper for the 2021 IPL season too.
Winning just four of their twelve fixtures, CSK have suffered their first league-stage elimination in the tournament's history and could well finish at the bottom of the eight-team points table.
Gambhir, however, thinks the strong relationship that Dhoni shares with the CSK owners will ensure that the losing streak won't have an effect on his position as the team's leader.
"You're putting me in a fix. Now that's a tough question. It up to the franchise. What he has done for the franchise and how the franchise actually deals with MS and treats MS is a fabulous relationship," Gambhir told ESPNcricinfo to a query whether Dhoni's legendary reign is coming to an end. "And that is how every franchise should deal with their captain, who has delivered for them."
Under Dhoni, CSK have won the IPL title thrice, besides winning the now-defunct Champions League T20 twice. The former India skipper and the franchise set-up boast of a well-acknowledged "mutual respect" that has seen CSK become one of the most successful T20 teams in the world.
"MS has won them three [IPL] trophies, couple of Champions Leagues, he has made them one of the top successful sides in the IPL after Mumbai Indians," Gambhir said. "So CSK saying they are going to continue with MS - it is just the relationship, it is just the mutual respect."
"That's why MS has been so loyal (to the Super Kings). That's why MS has given everything: heart and soul, his sweat, sleepless nights - I'm sure he must have had sleepless nights while he has continued captaining CSK."
"I know people talk about that you should not be emotional, but then there is a connect. You've got to appreciate what the captain or a player has done for your franchise, how much hard work he has put in, because it is not easy being the captain of any franchise and that also for a such a long period of time."
The CSK management, too, is quite keen to retain Dhoni at the mega action which, though, is likely to be pushed to 2022 with the next year's IPL beginning in just six months' time. The BCCI might conduct a mini-auction for now, but Gambhir is confident that Dhoni's position is safe.
"He deserves that much of appreciation from the owners," he said. "I keep saying that why CSK is CSK is because of the relationship between the owners and the captain. They have given all the freedom to MS, and MS has received all the mutual respect from the owners as well."
"So I would not be surprised if they continue with MS and MS plays till the time he wants to play. And then next year he still continues to be the captain and have a much different squad than what he has this time around," Gambhir added.
