'Unsatisfied' Ruturaj Gaikwad breaks silence on being removed as opener, drops MS Dhoni fitness update

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) defeated the Suryakumar Yadav-led Mumbai Indians (MI) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener on Sunday, March 23.

Chennai Super Kings beat the Mumbai Indians by 4 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai to start their campaign on a high, but Ruturaj Gaikwad was not satisfied with the win.

Also Read: "He took the game away" - Suryakumar Yadav holds Ruturaj Gaikwad responsible for MI's loss to CSK

Would have loved to be more clinical but that's how the game is - Ruturaj Gaikwad

Winning the toss and bowling first in the match, the Chennai Super Kings did a fantastic job and restricted Mumbai Indians to 155/9. Chasing the target, Rachin Ravindra showcased a batting masterclass and, along with good support from others, steered CSK to a win in 19.1 overs.

Speaking after the match, Ruturaj Gaikwad said that he was nervous after his dismissal and wanted his team to be more clinical against the 5-time champions. He said:

"Right after I got out, I was walking, and there are often times when you end up getting the match slightly closer but happy to be on the winning side. Would have loved to be more clinical but that's how the game is."

Ruturaj Gaikwad also revealed the real reason behind moving to No.3 in the batting order despite having great success as an opener in the Indian Premier League. He said:

"That was required by the team. That gives our new team much more balance. Rahul Tripathi can go out and express himself at the top. I am someone who can play both sides of the game so really happy to change my position."

He is more fitter this year - Ruturaj Gaikwad drops MS Dhoni fitness update

Ruturaj Gaikwad further lauded the spin trio of Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja as well as pacer Khaleel Ahmed. He stated:

"The spinners were right on point. Right after the auction when we had these 3 in our team, the one thing we were all very excited was to see them play together at Chepauk. It was a good start.

"Khaleel has been doing well in the IPL since last 2-3 years now. He is someone with experience. Noor definitely is an X-factor and that's why we wanted him in the team. Good to have Ash bhai as well."

In the end, Ruturaj Gaikwad talked about MS Dhoni and said that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman is fitter this year and is hitting more sixes in the nets. He asserted:

"He is still the same. He is more fitter this year. He is hitting more sixes than the rest this year. He's still looking young."

How Did CSK Perform in the Previous IPL Match Against MI?

In the previous match against Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings showcased an all-rounded performance to secure a 20-run victory.

Batting first, the visitors posted 206/4 on the board, thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s composed 69 runs and Shivam Dube’s explosive unbeaten 66 runs. MS Dhoni’s cameo of 20 off just four balls provided the perfect finishing touch, taking CSK beyond the 200-run mark.

With the ball, Matheesha Pathirana was the standout performer, dismantling MI’s batting order with figures of 4/28. His spell, which included the key wickets of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Romario Shepherd, ensured that Mumbai never truly were in the game.