Ruturaj Gaikwad is taking a patient approach to his leadership as Chennai Super Kings prepare for their first home fixture of IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings. Transitioning into an era without stalwarts like MS Dhoni, the captain is focused on providing a long leash to a squad that featured five franchise debutants in their season opener. Among those newcomers is Kartik Sharma, the record INR 14.20 crore auction signing.
However, the newcomers failed to bring success in the opening game against Rajasthan Royals. Nevertheless, the skipper noted that he is not interested in imposing a rigid style of captaincy on this developing group. He added that the team struggled to find the right combination last year but this year seems different.ย
Gaikwad also acknowledged the gap between seasoned veterans and the current roster. Following the loss to RR in difficult, rain-affected conditions in Guwahati, he emphasised the importance of mental well-being for his younger players.
“Not forcing it [captaincy], to be honest. But, we didn’t have the best of squads last year. And when I say that, you know, no disrespect to any players. But, I think, the combination didn’t just click the way we wanted,โ Gaikwad said in the pre-match press conference.
“Looking at this team now, it is a very young team. The excitement is there but at the same time, there’s a lot of difference between experienced players and inexperienced players. So, you have to allow them to make mistakes. You have to allow them to express themselves. You have to make sure that they are in a good headspace,โ he added.
Gaikwad reflects on Chepauk pitch
Ahead of the match against PBKS, attention has shifted to the Chepauk surface, which has moved away from its traditional spin-friendly nature to become a high-scoring ground. Fridayโs match will utilise the same black-soil track seen during the T20 World Cup in February, where India posted a massive 256 against Zimbabwe.
“Regarding pitches, I feel a lot depends here on the weather. Whatever World Cup games happened, they happened in the month of February. So, not much of dew or forecast about rain or cloudy weather as well. So, I think with the best weather and best conditionsโฆ the Chennai wicket usually plays really well,โ Gaikwad said.
Also Read: