CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is reportedly uncertain for the match against DC due to an elbow injury, and MS Dhoni might lead the team if he doesn’t recover in time.
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad remains uncertain for the home match against Delhi Capitals at Chepauk on Saturday. If Gaikwad fails to recover in time, MS Dhoni is expected to take over the leadership.
Gaikwad suffered an elbow injury against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati last Sunday. Attempting a shot off Tushar Deshpande in the second over, he missed the ball and was struck on the unprotected forearm. Despite receiving on-field treatment, he continued to bat and scored his second half-century in three matches. His availability for the match is still uncertain, forcing CSK to consider a potential replacement at the top of the order.
Batting coach Mike Hussey acknowledged the situation, stating that the team would assess Gaikwad’s condition before making a final decision. While no official confirmation has been made regarding captaincy, Dhoni remains the likely choice due to his leadership experience.
“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,” Hussey was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“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,” he added.
MS Dhoni, 43, is playing with limited fitness as his knees restrict prolonged batting. He has led Chennai Super Kings since 2008, except for two suspended seasons and a brief stint by Ravindra Jadeja in 2022. Dhoni last captained CSK in their 2023 IPL title win. In 2024, CSK finished fifth, missing playoffs on net run rate.
