India, Nov. 12 -- Two captains walk into the same dressing room. One is the quiet heir handpicked from within, the other a ready-made leader imported at a premium. Both are Indian, both are top-order pillars, and both have already lived the pressure of fronting an IPL franchise.

If Sanju Samson does end up in yellow, Chennai Super Kings won't just be signing runs at the top; they will be signing a captaincy debate. On paper, CSK could not script a more awkwardly perfect choice.

On one side sits Ruturaj Gaikwad, groomed slowly in the shadows of Dhoni. On the other hand, Samson, who has carried Rajasthan's leadership load for years and is still just hitting his prime.

The question isn't simply who is better? It is: Who fits CSK's idea of...