Ruturaj Gaikwad Faces Batting Struggles Despite CSK's Recent IPL Wins

Chennai Super Kings' Captain Under Pressure

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India] - April 15: Following a resurgence in form with two consecutive victories in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is grappling with a concerning slump in his batting performance, which raises alarms for the five-time champions.

Gaikwad's IPL 2026 season has been challenging, as he has accumulated only 63 runs across five innings, averaging 12.60 with a strike rate of 105.0. His scores of 6, 28, 7, 15, and 7 suggest he is still trying to find his footing at the top of the batting order.

Last season, Gaikwad's IPL 2025 campaign was cut short due to an elbow injury, where he managed to score 122 runs in five matches, including a high of 63 at a strike rate of 150.62, before being sidelined, leading to MS Dhoni taking over the captaincy.

In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Gaikwad played only one match for the Maharashtra team before being selected for India's ODI squad against South Africa, where he scored a solid 105 in the second ODI, despite the team's loss.

Although he has been active in List A and first-class cricket for Maharashtra, Gaikwad entered IPL 2026 with limited recent experience in T20 cricket.

Nonetheless, he has established himself as CSK's leading opener and captain since his debut in 2020, amassing 2565 runs in 76 matches at an average of 38.28 and a strike rate of 136.43, including two centuries and 20 fifties.

After a rough start to the 2026 IPL season, CSK has bounced back with two consecutive wins, moving up to eighth place in the points table after three initial losses.

Following a 32-run victory over KKR on Tuesday, Gaikwad acknowledged that the pressure and his poor form had begun to affect his mindset while batting. However, he expressed that the recent match helped him regain his composure and confidence, remaining optimistic about a significant individual score on the horizon.

“It feels great to be on the winning side after a long time. I sensed it was affecting my mindset while batting, but after the last game, I felt more relaxed. I’m feeling really good. I just need to focus on what the team requires and the situation at hand. Mentally, I feel positive, and I believe a big knock is just around the corner,” Gaikwad stated after the match on Tuesday.