CSK skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad opened up on being a part of the Chennai Super Kings. The opener batter had a difficult start to the IPL 2026 season, where he could manage just 63 runs in five innings at an average of 12.60 and a strike rate of 105. Although his scores of 74 not out and 67 not out in the latter part of the tournament did give him a breath of fresh air, as a whole, Ruturaj Gaikwad would like to forget this season of IPL. Earlier, even former cricketer R Ashwin pointed out that it was the responsibility of CSK’s captaincy and the pressure in the absence of MS Dhoni that might have taken a toll on Ruturaj’s batting.

As the Super Kings were up against the Lucknow Super Giants on May 15 at Ekana Stadium, Gaikwad once again failed to put up a decent show with the bat. Gaikwad departed early in the powerplay, displaying very slow batting and only scoring 13 runs in 9 balls, leaving CSK at 37/2 after the powerplay. Fans and netizens mocked Ruturaj for his performance and form, and even suggested Urvil Patel come down to open in Ruturaj’s place.

Although ahead of the game, Ruturaj Gaikwad, after the toss, spoke about how grateful he was to get all the support from fans, and it is a privilege to wear the CSK jersey and play for one of the most decorated franchises in the league. “It is a privilege to have (their support), privilege to wear the yellow jersey”, said the CSK skipper.

‘Giving opportunities to young talents’: Ruturaj Gaikwad on replacements in CSK squad

Ruturaj Gaikwad also talked about the replacements in the squad. He said that naming players as replacements has given opportunities to a lot of youngsters to play for CSK and showcase their skills in the IPL. The inclusion of Urvil Patel and Mukesh Choudhary had given them limelight for their performances, which helped them grow individually. He also said that, though every game is a must-win at this point, the team is focusing on one game at a time and thus has built confidence.

“I think it allows a lot of players who want to represent CSK and be a part of IPL. It gives confidence going ahead, we know that we have good backups in. It’s been a must-win scene for a long time but we just take one game at a time. Yes, it’s hard to ignore the table, but we want to still keep our eyes down here, as is the pitch, adapt accordingly and make sure we are the best team to adapt it,” he concluded.

CSK needs to win all three remaining games to reach 18 points on the points table to secure a top position for the playoffs.