Chennai Super Kings fans celebrated Sanju Samson's brilliant century against Delhi Capitals on Saturday, but at the same time, they were concerned with Ruturaj Gaikwad's form. CSK captain scored 15 off 18 balls and looked dismayed as he walked back to the dugout, facing home fans' fury at packed MA Chidambaram Stadium.
With just 56 runs in 54 balls in four innings in the IPL 2026, Ruturaj Gaikwad's struggles are out in the open. He has managed to record just one six this season and looked under pressure every time he opened an innings with Sanju Samson.
Against Delhi, it looked like Gaikwad was playing an anchor role as his opening partner clicked from the start. Even when he was struggling on 15 runs off 17 balls, fans were enjoying Samson's explosive start and were assured of Gaikwad's comeback.
But once again, Gaikwad disappointed fans and himself. He went for a big shot over deep square leg and failed to clear the boundary. He looked angry at himself as he took the long walk back to the dugout.
What followed was more concerning for Ruturaj Gaikwad. A big 100-plus partnership from Sanju Samson and Ayush Mhatre, with the former scoring an unbeaten century at a strike rate of over 200, and the youngster adding another quickfire fifty. It surely lifts CSK's campaign, but it also adds unimaginable pressure on their captain.
Sanju Samson's century puts Ruturaj Gaikwad in a difficult position
Sanju Samson had scored 22 runs in three innings before facing the Delhi Capitals and was clearly facing more heat than Ruturaj Gaikwad, especially after leading India to the T20 World Cup last month.
Before entering the tournament, fans were intrigued when Gaikwad confirmed that he would be opening with Samson. Gaikwad, one of the most consistent run-getters in the tournament in the last few years, and Samson, in the form of his life, were supposed to form one of the best opening partnerships in the tournament's history, but the opposite happened.
A century against Delhi answered the reason behind Samson's flop show in the first three innings. The former RR stalwart clearly needed time to settle into the new environment and returned to his old self with a knock that looked like a big relief for the Yellow army. But it's not a good sign for Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Fans are already demanding Gaikwad's exclusion from the team, as they have been holding back due to Samson's poor run. Also, many say Gaikwad has been underperforming due to the pressure of captaincy since Samson's arrival.
Is captaincy affecting Ruturaj Gaikwad's batting form?
Samson's captaincy experience with the Royals and his growing stature among Chennai fans will also mount more pressure on Gaikwad. In addition, Chennai's position at the bottom of the points table this season further calls into question Gaikwad's leadership skills.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's numbers as a captain are not promising, and now he has the lowest strike rate in the first ten balls in the powerplay, among players who have faced a minimum of 150 balls since the start of IPL 2024.
Will taking off the captain's armband ease the pressure? Gaikwad is 29 and has captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket. But leading CSK, the most successful team in the tournament, is a totally different thing. Maybe MS Dhoni's potential return to the team might take some leadership pressure off his shoulders.
The quality is there, and there is no question about Ruturaj Gaikwad's commitment to the team. Maybe he needs a shift in his mindset and his approach to the powerplay overs, but it is up to the player to sort the issues before it gets too late for everyone.
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