Watch: “Captaincy brings…”- Ravichandran Ashwin reacts to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting struggle in IPL 2026

A week ago, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was struggling to get a victory under their belt during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. But at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, the franchise earned two successive wins against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to be in the eighth position in the points table.

Their bowlers have been exceptional with two successive superb performances in defending the total, while their batters, including Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, and even Dewald Brevis, have come to the party on occasions whenever required. But the question has been about their captain.

Ravichandran Ashwin backs Ruturaj Gaikwad to improve in IPL 2026

The former CSK spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, has voiced against the discussions of dropping Ruturaj Gaikwad, the CSK captain, at number three to promote Mhatre as the opener. Ashwin reckoned that it would be a wrong idea for the management to change their batting order.

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“Does MS Dhoni come and score runs in every single game? In the pressure of captaincy, these things do happen. But with these two victories, CSK have boosted their confidence.” The former Indian player expressed his opinion in his YouTube video.  

“Now, if you, as a fan, group, or even team management, leave Ruturaj Gaikwad alone, he will surely be back in the runs. People have already started to discuss that Ayush Mhatre should have opened, and Gaikwad should be pushed back. That’s wrong.” The Chennai-born addressed.

The veteran also shed light on how a change in the batting order would break Gaikwad’s confidence, which is already down in terms of his batting. He advised giving him more time to get settled for a big score in the future.

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“We all talk from the outside. What will happen to the confidence of Gaikwad if the team management doesn’t back him at this stage? If in that kind of situation, a captain doesn’t get the trust from the management, then what will he even expect? CSK shouldn’t do anything with Gaikwad, who is too good a player. He will be back in form.” Ashwin concluded.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s poor IPL 2026 hurts CSK

Gaikwad, in a short time, has earned success for CSK with the bat. In an overall career of 2565 runs in 75 innings, he clubbed 635 and 590 runs in 2021 and 2023, respectively, when they won their fourth and fifth title respectively. But he could manage only 122 runs in 2025 before being injured.

Meanwhile, in this slump, it has been a massive slump with only 63 runs coming off his bat in five innings at an average of 12.60 and a strike rate of 105 at the best score of 28 runs. He hopes to contribute more with the bat in the coming games for the Whistle Podu army.