Gaikwad's form resurgence makes CSK lethal, says Ashwin after MI rout
Synopsis
Gaikwad's return to form — a composed 67 against MI after his 74 against GT — has transformed CSK's fortunes mid-tournament. Partnered by debutant Kartik Sharma's maiden half-century, the Super Kings sealed a clinical 8-wicket chase on a difficult pitch. Ashwin's verdict: CSK are now lethal.
Key Takeaways
Ruturaj Gaikwad struck a composed 48-ball 67 to anchor CSK's chase against Mumbai Indians on 3 May 2026 .
Kartik Sharma , aged 20 , scored his maiden IPL half-century with an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls .
The Gaikwad-Kartik partnership of 98 runs for the third wicket sealed an 8-wicket win with 11 balls remaining.
Ravichandran Ashwin praised Gaikwad's tempo and match-reading, saying CSK are 'becoming more dangerous with every match.' CSK moved to sixth in the league standings; next face Delhi Capitals on 5 May .
Ruturaj Gaikwad's return to form has transformed Chennai Super Kings into genuine contenders, according to former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who praised the CSK skipper's composure and match-reading after a clinical 8-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at the M A Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.
Gaikwad, who struggled in CSK's opening seven matches of IPL 2026 with just 104 runs at a highest score of 28, struck a measured 48-ball 67 to anchor the chase after the Super Kings had been restricted to a modest target. His previous outing against Gujarat Titans — an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls in an 8-wicket loss — marked the turning point in his campaign.
Ashwin's assessment of Gaikwad's turnaround
"Everyone was talking about his form," Ashwin said on JioStar. "This innings was a result of the previous game. It was a challenging wicket, the GT game, and the time he spent in the middle and the knock he played — you cannot compare it with the likes of Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Abhishek Sharma. On wickets like these, this is how you should play."
The former off-spinner highlighted Gaikwad's tactical acumen and the impact of his stabilising presence. "Ruturaj played with a great tempo in this game and read the conditions well. His role was important; if CSK had lost one or two more wickets, the pressure would have increased on their batting line-up. He took responsibility, and the way he played, CSK are becoming more dangerous with every match," Ashwin added.
Kartik Sharma's maiden half-century seals the chase
Mumbai Indians, after being put in to bat, managed 159/7. In response, Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma — the 20-year-old debutant — forged an unbeaten third-wicket partnership of 98 runs to guide CSK home with 11 balls remaining. Kartik's composed 54 off 40 balls marked his maiden half-century in the tournament.
Pujara hails Kartik's breakthrough performance
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara underscored the significance of Kartik's knock, particularly on a pitch where spin was expected to dominate. "This was a very important innings for young Kartik Sharma. CSK have shown a lot of faith in him and given him multiple opportunities. This match against Mumbai was the perfect stage for him to deliver and repay that trust. He did exactly that," Pujara said on JioStar.
"On a difficult pitch where spin was expected to dominate the middle overs, CSK needed an Indian batter to partner Ruturaj. Kartik stepped up and took that responsibility well. I am really happy for him because he had not been scoring runs, and there was a lot of talk about his potential. Finally, that trust has paid off for CSK," he added.
What's next for CSK
The victory propels CSK to sixth in the league standings. The Super Kings will next face Delhi Capitals on 5 May, seeking to build momentum on the back of consecutive strong performances.
Point of View
But a captain recalibrating his role: on a pitch where spin threatened to asphyxiate the chase, Gaikwad's willingness to absorb pressure and read conditions separated CSK from panic. Kartik Sharma's maiden fifty matters less for its arithmetic and more for what it signals — CSK's faith in youth is finally being vindicated. This team now looks capable of a tournament-ending run.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many runs has Ruturaj Gaikwad scored in his last two IPL 2026 matches?
Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls against Gujarat Titans and a composed 67 off 48 balls against Mumbai Indians, totalling 141 runs across the two matches and marking a sharp turnaround from his earlier form.
What did Ravichandran Ashwin say about CSK's chances after the MI win?
Ashwin said CSK are 'becoming more dangerous with every match,' praising Gaikwad's tempo, condition-reading, and responsibility-taking in stabilising the chase on a difficult pitch where spin was expected to dominate.
Who is Kartik Sharma and what did he achieve against Mumbai Indians?
Kartik Sharma is a 20-year-old Indian batter who scored his maiden IPL half-century with an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, forging an unbeaten 98-run partnership with Gaikwad for the third wicket to seal the chase.
What was Mumbai Indians' total and how did CSK chase it down?
Mumbai Indians scored 159 for 7 batting first. CSK chased it down with an 8-wicket victory, with Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma's unbeaten 98-run third-wicket stand completing the target with 11 balls remaining.
Where does CSK stand in the IPL 2026 standings after this win?
CSK moved to sixth position in the league standings following the 8-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians. They will next play Delhi Capitals on 5 May.
