IPL 2026: ‘Captaincy has affected Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting’- Ashwin’s blunt CSK verdict
Ravichandran Ashwin believes Ruturaj Gaikwad's batting is suffering under the weight of captaincy for Chennai Super Kings. The team is in a rebuilding phase after MS Dhoni. Expectations remain high for CSK.
Gaikwad's struggles highlight the challenges of leadership during this transition. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a playoff spot with their win.
Ravichandran Ashwin believes the pressure of leading Chennai Super Kings during the difficult post-MS Dhoni transition has started affecting Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting, following another disappointing outing for the CSK skipper in IPL 2026. Speaking on JioHotstar after Chennai’s five-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, Ashwin said the franchise is going through a rebuilding phase and warned that expectations around CSK remain unrealistically high because of the standards set during the Dhoni era. “Chennai Super Kings are clearly in a transition phase in the post-Dhoni era.
It’s important for everyone involved—fans, stakeholders, and the team—to recognize that rebuilding takes time,” Ashwin said. “The standards and expectations associated with CSK are incredibly high because of their legacy, but this group needs space and patience as they evolve. ” Ashwin’s comments came after another difficult innings from Gaikwad, who struggled for rhythm during Chennai’s innings and managed only 15 runs off 21 balls before falling to Pat Cummins.
On a surface where timing was challenging but aggressive strokeplay was still possible, the CSK captain once again looked short of fluency while other batters around him scored at a far quicker rate. Ashwin felt the added responsibility of captaincy may now be weighing heavily on Gaikwad’s natural batting game. “At the same time, the added responsibility of captaincy seems to have affected Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting.