Ruturaj Gaikwad not injured? Shocking visuals emerge from Chennai after MS Dhoni returns as CSK captain

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a colossal blow as their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed this development ahead of the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday, April 11, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

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MS Dhoni handed CSK captaincy after Ruturaj Gaikwad gets ruled

Gaikwad has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League 2025 due to an elbow injury. He sustained the injury during CSK's match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30.

Notably, RR pacer Tushar Deshpande hit him on the elbow, but he continued batting. After the incident, there were questions over his fitness, but he played two more games against Delhi Capitals on April 5 and against Punjab Kings on April 8.

However, his injury seems more serious than initially expected, as he has been ruled out of the entire tournament. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming revealed that they got an X-ray of Gaikwad's elbow, which was inconclusive, and later had an MRI, which revealed a fracture in his elbow in the radial neck.

He further revealed that the uncapped batsman MS Dhoni would take over the captaincy from Ruturaj Gaikwad for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, during a discussion on JioHotstar ahead of the RCB vs DC clash, visuals from Chennai were shown and Gaikwad was seen playing with the ball from his same injured hand that also had a strap on it.

This didn't sit well with the cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra, who was absolutely shocked and felt as if something about Gaikwad's injury was suspicious. He said playing with the ball with the injured hand is not an ideal thing.

Watch: Ruturaj Gaikwad plays with ball

pic.twitter.com/9I7Ij4nYGt

— Drizzyat12Kennyat8 (@45kennyat7PM) April 10, 2025

Terrible news for CSK - Harsha Bhogle on Gaikwad being ruled out

After the news of the CSK skipper being ruled out was made public, the veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle took to his official X handle to state:

"Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the #TataIPL2025 is terrible news for @ChennaiIPL. Both as captain and as a top order batter. So.....back to MSD as captain."

Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of the #TataIPL2025 is terrible news for @ChennaiIPL. Both as captain and as a top order batter. So.....back to MSD as captain.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 10, 2025

Meanwhile, the former Kolkata Knight Riders team director Joy Bhattacharjya backed CSK's idea to reappoint MS Dhoni as captain. He stated:

"Ruturaj out for the season, MS Dhoni to take over for the rest of the season. Makes sense, why get in another interim captain who will have his own learning curve and complicate matters."

Ruturaj out for the season, MS Dhoni to take over for the rest of the season.
Makes sense, why get in another interim captain who will have his own learning curve and complicate matters.

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 10, 2025

Notably, Gaikwad scored 122 runs at a strike rate of 150.61 in the ongoing season of IPL in five games.