Ruturaj Gaikwad, the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, has received support from former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, who emphasized that leadership in a high-pressure competition like the IPL carries a hefty responsibility that is frequently underestimated.
He added that Ruturaj took over as captain of CSK in 2024, marking the end of the MS Dhoni era. He emphasized that developing a new leadership core in a great franchise takes time and called on all parties involved, including fans, to exercise patience.
“The added responsibility of captaincy seems to have affected Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting. T20 cricket is already demanding, and carrying the burden of leadership alongside expectations from a franchise like CSK can have a significant impact on a player,” Ashwin, who had two separate stints with CSK spanning a total of nine years — first from 2008 to 2015 and later returning in 2025 before announcing his retirement in August – was quoted by PTI as telling JioHotstar.
CSK’s chances of making the playoffs are now in jeopardy after losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad by five wickets on Tuesday. With only one league game left, CSK will now have a difficult battle ahead of them and will need other outcomes to go their way in order to qualify.
“Chennai Super Kings are clearly in a transition phase in the post-Dhoni era, and it’s important for everyone around the franchise, fans, stakeholders, and the team itself, to recognise that rebuilding takes time.
“The standards and expectations associated with CSK are incredibly high because of their legacy, but this group needs space and patience as they evolve,” added Ashwin, who had a close association with Dhoni while he was a member of the five-time IPL winning team.
Aaron Finch, a former captain of Australia, advised caution while evaluating Ruturaj’s leadership, pointing out that the pressures of captaincy inherently put additional burden on any player. He emphasized that for the time being, the CSK captain’s batting form should be the main priority.
“It’s important not to judge a player or a captain based on just one season because T20 cricket can be extremely demanding and unpredictable. From a captaincy perspective, Ruturaj Gaikwad has still led the side well, especially with his decisions and composure on the field.
“At times, form and leadership pressure can overlap, but for him it now comes down to rediscovering his batting rhythm and getting back to scoring consistently. The quality is still there, and sometimes in T20 cricket, phases like these can change very quickly,” added Finch.
