Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were outclassed in all facets of the game by Rajasthan Royals (RR) during their IPL 2026 opener at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
The five-time champions were bundled out for a paltry 127 after being invited to bat first. Chasing the target, RR got over the line in just 12.1 overs with eight wickets in hand, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 15-ball half-century.
Ahead of CSK’s next match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Chepauk, Ruturaj Gaikwad addressed the challenges of captaining a transitioning squad, emphasizing a patient leadership style focused on allowing a new generation of players to find their footing.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad isn't "forcing" himself to put his stamp on a new-look team, and hopes to create a nurturing environment for the youngsters who have taken over from the old guard.
The franchise handed debut caps to five players during their campaign opener, including Kartik Sharma, who was bought for a record INR 14.20 crore at the auction.
"Not forcing it [captaincy], to be honest," Gaikwad quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "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.
Gaikwad urged fans and media to allow the youngsters to make mistakes, noting that many are at the very start of their careers and need time to adapt to IPL-level pressure.
"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."
"I mean, [there's pressure to perform] from families, from the media, from team members, everyone [in the IPL]. So to cope with that and to just get into that IPL performance mode, sometimes it takes time.
"You try and share your experience with them, [but] it should not make them cautious. It should not make them go into a negative frame of mind. Making their debut for a franchise like CSK - it's a huge achievement for them. So, first thing is to enjoy it, embrace it and give your best, whatever it is there. If it happens, well and good; even if it does not happen, it is still a long journey for them. They're still at the start of their careers. It's just about managing what are their strengths, and just navigating them to be fearless and not have any doubts about it," Gaikwad said.
While the Chepauk pitch is famous for its spin-friendly nature, the CSK skipper pointed out that the shift from the February World Cup window to the current season brings two big variables -- humidity and dew. However, he expressed confidence in his team’s ability to counter all sorts of challengers.
"Regarding pitches, I feel a lot depends here on the weather," Gaikwad said. "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 conditions… the Chennai wicket usually plays really well.
"But, at night, sometimes, if there is excessive dew and a bit more moisture in the wicket, it tends to change a bit, especially the second half of the innings. So, not really sure about how it will go this year. We have to adapt accordingly and we have seven games. So, hopefully, whatever the [nature of the] pitch, we will try to make use of it however we can."
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
