CSK’s IPL 2024 campaign has got off to a mixed start. While the defending champions defeated RCB and GT in their first two home games, they lost to DC and SRH in a couple of away fixtures.

After the two straight defeats, Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy came under the scanner as the likes of Matthew Hayden and Irfan Pathan were left perplexed by some of his on-field calls in the match against SRH at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday (April 5).

On the eve of the IPL 2024 opener, MS Dhoni stepped down as CSK captain, handing the leadership baton to Gaikwad.

Speaking to Star Sports, Hayden pointed out two major errors Gaikwad made which led to the franchise slipping from the top spot to the third position in the team standings.

"There were a couple of decisions which weren't quite sharp. When you think of Moeen Ali as an all-rounder, he ended up contributing nicely with the ball, but he should have been batted up the order. He should have been given a licence. They were lagging inside that power play. They were 1 for 49 in the power play. So to me, they needed an injection of some hope and some courage, and Moeen Ali could have provided that," Hayden said.

"With the ball, I think they probably could have bowled Theekshana straight away to Travis Head. It's a great match-up. Don't wait until the fourth over. He went for plenty of that second over. So for me, Theekshana straight up front against Travis Head could have been a better move," he added.

Gaikwad instead opened the bowling with Deepak Chahar and Mukesh Choudhary, but the duo was taken to the cleaners by SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head in the chase of 166.

Pathan endorsed Hayden’s words and said, "I said that in the Hindi commentary as well, that when Mukesh and Deepak Chahar were bowling with the new ball, actually their strength lies with the new ball. So it must be very tough for Ruturaj Gaikwad as well to get Maheesh Theekshana in attack. That temptation would have been there because of Travis Head.”

“I would have actually pushed the same point what Matthew Hayden has said, that get Maheesh Theekshana to bowl. That maybe give a little breather to Mukesh, make him bowl at later stage. To understand where the pressure is left because Mukesh's strength is with the new ball, and yes he hasn't played first-class cricket for literally for 15 months and that's a long time."

Hayden wondered if Gaikwad is feeling the pressure of having to succeed the legendary Dhoni in the leadership role.

"I think it can never be easy with a cloud of MS Dhoni around you, and I'm not saying that's because of MS Dhoni. But it is what it is. He is Thala. So Ruturaj Gaikwad might be having that sort of pressure inside him, and maybe his reaction and decision-making process need to be just a little quicker and a little sharper," he concluded.

Chennai Super Kings will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk on Monday (April 8).