Chennai, April 14 (NationPress) The captain of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, finds himself in a challenging situation with the bat during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. His extended struggle at the crease has become a mounting concern for the five-time champions, despite their recent resurgence in form.

In the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday, Gaikwad managed to score only seven runs before being dismissed through a poorly executed slog-sweep off Anukul Roy in the third over. This dismissal has underscored a worrying trend, as he has yet to achieve a half-century this season and has not even crossed 30 runs in an innings. Over five matches, he has only tallied 63 runs, with scores of 6, 28, 7, 15, and 7, indicating he is still seeking to regain his rhythm at the top order.

Even though CSK broke a three-match losing streak with a victory over Delhi Capitals last Friday, Gaikwad's form remains a significant issue for the team's management. His batting approach has come under scrutiny, particularly his struggles with strike rotation and maintaining momentum during the Power-play.

Since the start of 2025, Gaikwad's dot-ball percentage in T20 cricket has risen to approximately 38.4, revealing a phase where he has struggled to keep the scoreboard moving. His performance during this time has seen him average around 18.40, with just two half-centuries to his name.

Injuries have also disrupted his rhythm, as Gaikwad participated in only five matches during IPL 2025 before being sidelined, leading to MS Dhoni returning to the captaincy role. Although he displayed flashes of his potential during that short stint, the lack of consistent T20 play leading into this season seems to have affected his fluency.

Gaikwad did achieve a significant milestone in the 50-over format, scoring a century against South Africa in a recent ODI. However, the transition back to the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket has not been smooth.

Despite his current struggles, Gaikwad's overall IPL record remains impressive. Since joining CSK in 2020, he has accumulated over 2,500 runs in 75 matches, which includes two centuries and several seasons exceeding 400 runs. However, his strike rate has frequently lingered below the elite threshold, exceeding 150 in a season only once, a campaign that was ultimately cut short by injury.

For CSK, the immediate challenge is to rediscover the version of Gaikwad who can effectively anchor the innings while also keeping the scoreboard ticking. As the tournament approaches a crucial juncture, the responsibility now falls on their captain to strike a balance between stability and aggression, finding ways to make a quicker impact at the top of the order.