Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in support of Ruturaj Gaikwad, saying the pressures of captaincy in a tournament as intense as the IPL are often underestimated and can significantly affect a player’s performance.
Ashwin also pointed out that Chennai Super Kings are currently navigating a transition period following the end of the MS Dhoni leadership era, with Ruturaj taking charge of the side in 2024. He stressed that fans and stakeholders must remain patient as the franchise rebuilds its leadership structure.
“The extra responsibility of captaincy seems to have impacted Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting. T20 cricket itself is extremely demanding, and when you add the burden of leading a side like CSK, along with the expectations that come with the franchise, it can heavily influence a player,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin, who represented CSK across two separate stints spanning nine years — initially from 2008 to 2015 and later returning in 2025 before retiring in August — said the current phase should be viewed as part of a natural rebuilding process. CSK’s playoff hopes suffered a major setback after their five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. With only one league match remaining, the five-time champions now need other results to go their way to stay alive in the race for qualification.
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“Chennai Super Kings are clearly going through a transition in the post-Dhoni phase, and it is important for everyone associated with the franchise—fans, management, and the players themselves—to understand that rebuilding takes time.
“The expectations attached to CSK are enormous because of the legacy they carry, but this squad deserves time and patience while it evolves,” Ashwin added, reflecting on his long association with Dhoni at one of the IPL’s most successful franchises.
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch also urged people not to judge Ruturaj too quickly, saying the pressure of captaincy naturally affects form and confidence.
“It’s unfair to assess a player or captain based on just one season because T20 cricket can be very unpredictable and mentally demanding. From a leadership perspective, Ruturaj has handled things well, especially in terms of his calmness and decision-making on the field.
“At this stage, it’s more about him rediscovering his batting rhythm and returning to consistent run-scoring. The quality is definitely there, and in T20 cricket, momentum can shift very quickly,” Finch said.
With SRH securing a playoff berth, the team’s bowling coach Varun Aaron praised young pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain for their hunger to improve and ambition to represent India.
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