Fans of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team were in for a surprise on the eve of the Indian Premier League last week, when fabled captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down and Ruturaj Gaikwad was named the new skipper of the team. Dhoni, who has led CSK to five impressive trophies, leaving behind large shoes to fill for Gaikwad, a relative newcomer who debuted with CSK only four years ago. Quite naturally, expectations are running high for the new captain to uphold his predecessor’s illustrious legacy and riotous popularity. Drawing parallels with similar scenarios in corporate workplaces, leadership coach Ankoor Naik notes a few reasons why this type of a succession may be a particularly challenging transition for both the team and the newly anointed leader.  

When taking over a team, leaders should avoid blaming their predecessors, and learn from them instead. Representation pics