Ravichandran Ashwin has suggested that the strain of steering Chennai Super Kings through a tough post-MS Dhoni phase is beginning to show in Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting, after yet another underwhelming display from the CSK skipper in IPL 2026. Speaking on JioHotstar following Chennai’s five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, Ashwin said the franchise is still working through a rebuild, while also noting that the burden of legacy-linked expectations remains exceptionally heavy.
Ashwin pointed out that CSK’s recent era has shifted, and that patience is required as the team finds its rhythm again. “Chennai Super Kings are clearly in a transition phase after the Dhoni years. It’s important for everyone connected to the team—supporters, decision-makers, and players—to understand that rebuilding doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “The expectations and benchmarks attached to CSK are extremely high due to the franchise’s history, but this squad needs room and time to grow into its next version.”
His remarks followed another challenging innings for Gaikwad, where he struggled to get into a consistent rhythm during Chennai’s chase of momentum. Gaikwad managed just 15 runs from 21 balls before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. With timing proving difficult on the Chepauk surface, aggressive shot-making was still available, yet Gaikwad once again appeared short on fluency, especially as other batters around him moved through the overs at a much quicker tempo.
Ashwin also felt the captaincy load could be affecting Gaikwad’s natural game. “There’s also a sense that the extra responsibility of captaincy is weighing on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting. T20 is already a high-pressure format, and having to carry leadership duties along with the expectations that come with a franchise like CSK can make a noticeable difference to a player,” Ashwin added.
The defeat left CSK’s route to the playoffs extremely narrow, while Sunrisers Hyderabad officially booked their place in the IPL 2026 postseason. In Hyderabad’s successful chase of 181, Ishan Kishan set the tone with a composed 70 off 47 deliveries, before Heinrich Klaasen injected fresh momentum with a brisk 47. SRH reached 16 points from 13 matches and confirmed their playoff spot, joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans.
Earlier, Chennai had posted 180/7, with positive contributions from Sanju Samson, rising talent Kartik Sharma, and Dewald Brevis, who ended as top-scorer with 44. However, Gaikwad’s slow start once again became a focal point, as CSK were unable to squeeze maximum value out of a promising beginning.
For Hyderabad, Pat Cummins led the bowling attack with outstanding impact, finishing with figures of 3/28. The performance also marked him as only the latest bowler to reach 200 wickets in T20 cricket. Young pacers Sakib Husain and Praful Hinge added two wickets each as SRH tightened their grip on the contest and ensured the match swung decisively in their favour.
