With Ruturaj Gaikwad steadily finding his rhythm again, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Chennai Super Kings are becoming a more formidable side with every outing. Ashwin’s assessment comes after CSK delivered another confident performance—one that not only strengthened their own position in the league race but also dented Mumbai Indians’ chances of reaching the playoffs.
Gaikwad’s turnaround after a tough opening phase
Gaikwad, celebrated for his steadiness in domestic cricket and franchise leagues, endured a rough patch at the start of IPL 2026. In his first seven matches, the CSK captain managed 104 runs in total, with a highest score of 28.
However, the shift in momentum became clear in the previous Sunday’s match against Gujarat Titans. Gaikwad responded strongly by striking an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls, signalling that his timing and shot selection were returning.
From Gujarat breakthrough to Mumbai statement
Carrying that momentum forward, Gaikwad continued his recovery in Saturday’s game against Mumbai Indians. He produced a composed knock of 67 off 48 deliveries, setting the tone for CSK’s successful chase.
CSK ultimately secured an eight-wicket win at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, completing a league double over their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians. The result also ensured CSK remained in contention, while at the same time dealing a major blow to MI’s playoff ambitions.
Ashwin explains why CSK are getting more dangerous
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, Ashwin linked Gaikwad’s improvement to the conditions and the confidence gained from the previous match.
- Ashwin said the talk around Gaikwad’s form was constant, and that the latest innings was shaped by the confidence from the game versus Gujarat Titans.
- He highlighted that the wicket in the GT match was challenging and that Gaikwad’s time spent in the middle, along with his knock, helped set up the approach for the next game.
- Ashwin noted that on such surfaces, Gaikwad’s style of play is exactly what matters, especially when comparing how different batters handle wickets like that.
- He praised Gaikwad for keeping a good tempo and reading the conditions effectively during the Mumbai innings.
- Ashwin emphasised that Gaikwad’s role was crucial; he added that if CSK had lost one or two more wickets, the pressure on the batting order would likely have increased.
- He concluded that by taking responsibility in that manner, CSK are becoming more dangerous with each match.
MI’s 159/7 and CSK’s controlled chase
After a strong start, Mumbai Indians slipped from a promising position to finish on 159/7. Naman Dhir was the standout with 57, but the middle order again failed to convert the platform into a bigger total.
CSK’s bowling kept things tight and controlled the flow of runs through the innings. Anshul Kamboj led the way with figures of 3/32, while Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton maintained pressure during the middle overs.
CSK reach the target with Gaikwad and support
In response, CSK chased the target comfortably. The chase was powered by an unbeaten 67 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Kartik Sharma provided stability with an unbeaten 54*.
- CSK chased down 159/7 with eight wickets in hand.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad finished 67* to anchor the successful chase.
- Kartik Sharma contributed 54* to ensure CSK kept control throughout.
With this win at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, CSK completed a league double over Mumbai Indians, while also delivering a significant setback to MI’s playoff hopes and keeping Chennai firmly in the hunt in IPL 2026.
