Chennai Super Kings, the franchise with five IPL titles to its name, have picked up momentum in the 2026 season after collecting a second consecutive victory. On Tuesday, CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs, taking them to four points from five matches. While the result will please the Yellow Army, one storyline refuses to fade: the batting rhythm of captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Through five outings, the right-hander has scored 63 runs in total, and his best return so far is 28, made against Punjab Kings.
The captain’s struggles were once again evident at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where CSK faced KKR. Gaikwad failed to make an impact in the match, departing for 7, and the early-season pressure has intensified. There is growing talk within the CSK camp—and among supporters—that Gaikwad should consider batting lower, with calls for him to move down to No. 3 to allow Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre to take charge during the powerplay overs.
Despite the criticism, Gaikwad projected confidence when speaking after the match. He suggested that any concerns about his form are easing and that a breakthrough innings is close. “Firstly, I think it’s good to be on the winning side after a long time. I felt it was starting to get into my head even while I was batting. After the last game, I felt a bit more relaxed, and I’m feeling really good now. Just make sure I do whatever the team or the situation needs. I’m feeling mentally strong and positive—just a big knock is around the corner,” Gaikwad said.
Gaikwad also played down the idea that his teammates should change their approach to accommodate him, insisting that CSK’s collective effort will cover any gaps until his innings find momentum. “As long as the other guys are covering up for me, definitely I’ll do it when it’s needed. The Yellow Army will be supporting you all the way,” he added.
CSK’s win was built on a solid platform in the batting innings and a decisive bowling effort to close out KKR. In the contest, CSK posted 192/5, with Sanju Samson and Dewald Brevis providing the key thrust by contributing 48 and 41 respectively. From there, CSK tightened the screws, and Noor Ahmed’s spell proved crucial as he finished with figures of 3/21, helping CSK restrict KKR and secure the 32-run victory.
Reflecting on how the match unfolded, Gaikwad said he felt the target was defendable once the pitch conditions evolved. “Feeling good, to be honest. I think we defended a good score again. I felt it was about par, especially because the wicket changed drastically after the first seven or eight overs. It started spinning a bit, then it eased off. We were initially looking at 220 or 210, but then we thought anything around 190 or 180 would be a good score. After that, we just had to get a good powerplay in bowling, and once we did that, it was about maintaining the run rate,” he explained.
Even with the victory in hand, Gaikwad highlighted areas CSK still need to improve, particularly in the field. “We dropped everything that came, just took one or two, but I still felt it was okay. Today, so much sweat is coming into the hands. Not an excuse, but you definitely would like to improve,” he said, signalling that the team’s focus will now turn to sharper execution as the season continues.
