‘He knew we needed him’: Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicates CSK win to Mukesh Choudhary after mother’s passing
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicated their 103-run victory over Mumbai Indians to teammate Mukesh Choudhary, who played despite his mother's recent passing. Gaikwad praised Choudhary's courage, while Sanju Samson's unbeaten 101 powered CSK to 207/6. Spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad then restricted MI to 104, securing a dominant win.
NEW DELHI: A deeply emotional night at the Wankhede Stadium saw Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicate his side’s emphatic 103-run win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 to teammate Mukesh Choudhary, who played despite the recent passing of his mother. The CSK players wore black armbands in tribute, turning a dominant performance into a poignant moment of solidarity and resilience. ‘Hats off to him’: Gaikwad on Mukesh’s courage Gaikwad was visibly moved as he spoke about Mukesh’s effort under difficult circumstances.
“Pretty tough on him. Hats off to him, coming in that situation, it takes a lot mentally. He came back for the team, for the franchise, because he knew we needed him.
All glory to him. We all wanted to be there for him and chipped away for him,” he said. He reiterated the emotional weight behind the victory, adding, “Pretty tough on him (Mukesh Choudhary), I would dedicate this win to him.
All glory to him. Everyone chipped in and wanted to be there for him. ” Mukesh responded with a disciplined spell of 1/31, striking early to remove Quinton de Kock and setting the tone for CSK’s dominance.