In his debut as captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) expressed confidence, stating the captaincy did not weigh heavily on him.
His leadership was off to a victorious start thanks to outstanding performances by Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, and Mustafizur Rahman, which led CSK to a six-wicket victory against RCB. This win further solidified CSK’s dominant home record against RCB, improving it to 8-1 in Chennai’s favor and marking CSK’s eighth straight win at Chepauk against any team in the IPL.
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Gaikwad, feeling comfortable in his new role, attributed his ease to prior leadership experience and the presence of MS Dhoni. He highlighted the clear roles defined within the team, emphasizing the positive mindset and strategic approach of his teammates. “I’ve always embraced the captaincy role without feeling burdened by it. Having Mahi bhai around and understanding everyone’s roles within our squad made leading seamless,” Gaikwad reflected during the post-match presentation.
He commended his team for maintaining control throughout the match, barring a few overs, and acknowledged the late surge by RCB. Gaikwad pinpointed the dismissals of key players like Maxwell and Faf du Plessis as crucial moments that allowed CSK to dictate the pace and outcome of the game. “Getting those early wickets was a pivotal moment for us, setting the stage for our victory,” Gaikwad added, underscoring the strategic victories that contributed to their successful start to the season.
