Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has suffered an elbow injury and is doubtful for CSK’s next IPL 2025 match against Delhi Capitals in Chepauk on Saturday. It has been reported if Ruturaj Gaikwad fails to get fit in time, MS Dhoni is likely to captain the CSK team.
Gaikwad sustained a knock to his exposed elbow against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati last Sunday after stepping out to Tushar Deshpande and missing the ball in the second over of CSK's failed chase of 183.
"Yeah, we're hoping he [Gaikwad] is going to try and have a bat today for training. And, yeah, it [elbow] is still a little bit sore, but it's improving every day. So, we're very hopeful that he'll be fine for tomorrow,” CSK batting coach Mike Hussey was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.
"I don't think we've actually thought about that [captaincy] too much. Well, I haven't thought about it too much. I'm sure Stephen Fleming [CSK head coach] and Rutu have thought about that. But we've got some young guy coming through. He's behind the stumps. Maybe he can do a good job. I'm not sure. He's got a bit of experience in the role, so maybe he could do it. But I'm not exactly sure, to be honest,” Hussey stated.
Gaikwad was at Chepauk on Friday for a brief training session in which he faced some under-armed throwdowns. If he is unable to participate, CSK will need to locate a replacement top-order hitter. Devon Conway was among the first hitters to swing on Friday. Dhoni, 43, is limited in his ability to bat because of knee issues, according to Fleming.
He has been CSK's captain since their establishment in 2008, except for two years of suspension and a few matches in 2022, when they attempted to hand over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja but failed.
Dhoni last led his club to the IPL final in 2023. CSK won that game, earning their fifth IPL title. However, when the next season began, they named Gaikwad as captain. CSK finished fifth in 2024 and missed the playoffs based on net run rate.
The CSK squad's reserve Indian batters are Andhra's Shaik Rasheed, Tamil Nadu's C Andre Siddarth, and Delhi's Vansh Bedi, all of whom have never played in the IPL.
