Watch: Ruturaj Gaikwad spotted playing football despite being ruled out of IPL 2025 due to injury

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) supporters were left perplexed when their star batsman and captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was spotted playing football even after being ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season owing to an elbow fracture. Gaikwad injured himself while playing against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, 2025, in Guwahati, leading CSK to officially announce that MS Dhoni would be the new captain for the rest of the tournament. The surprise image of Gaikwad kicking a football nonchalantly has raised questions regarding the extent of his injury and how long he will take to recover, with fans and pundits left in disagreement.

The altercation occurred during a light-hearted warm-up session at a stadium, where Gaikwad, clad in his CSK training kit, was spotted interacting with teammates on the pitch. Although he was careful with his right arm, the location of the reported injury, he displayed no signs of discomfort making use of his legs, which led to speculation regarding the actual severity of his condition. Gaikwad's elbow fracture, described as a hairline injury according to CSK's official communication, was already a major setback for the team, considering his good form this season, having scored two half-centuries in three games. The team management had decided to play it safe and focus on his long-term recovery rather than an early comeback.

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But Gaikwad's footballing activity has prompted some to question whether CSK may have exaggerated the effect of the injury, while others believe that an elbow problem would not necessarily limit lower-body movements. This has generated a buzz around his possible return, although no official word has confirmed any alteration in his status.

What Will This Mean for Gaikwad and CSK's Next Game? 

The event has also sparked discussions about the recovery of athletes in professional sports. Even though Gaikwad's conduct could indicate he has improved enough to compete, they will be without Gaikwad in their next match, on March 25 against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 11, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai starting at 7:30 PM local time. MS Dhoni will lead a team without Gaikwad, calling