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During the match 63 off the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosted the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled to get his runs once again in this season. The Men in Yellow skipper continued with scoring runs while opening the innings.
Ruturaj won the toss and opted to bat first on a wicket that was dry and might get slower, and the spinner to get assistance. But despite batting first, the Chennai captain struggled to break his chains and played another slow innings. Ruturaj has been questioned for his low strike rate and not being able to score many big scores.
CSK won the toss and opted to bat
The Men in Yellow made just one change brining in Akeal Hosein for Gurajpneet Singh. After choosing to bat first, Sanju Samson gave the Men in Yellow a solid start, scoring 27 off 13 balls, and was dismissed by Pat Cummins. Soon, the dangerous Urvil Patel was back, scoring 13 runs. Then Kartik Sharma took charge of the aggressor.
They scored 57/2 in the power play, despite getting the start from Sanju Samson, the skipper failed to capitalise on the momentum. Kartik Sharma and Gaikwad stitched a partnership between them; the former was playing shots and looked in good touch, but could not convert his start into a big score with Cummins picking up the wicket yet again as Kartik departed with the score of 32 off 19 balls.
Ruturaj Gaikwad fails again
Ruturaj, ahead of this game, scored 312 runs, and his average has come down to 31.20 with a strike rate of 123.80, which has been his problem this season. The skipper tonight also did not have the clarity to score the runs aggressively or take a chance in the power play.
However, Ruturaj did not hit a single boundary in the match in the 21 balls he faced, and in the very next ball was dismissed by Cummins on the score of 15 runs as he picked his third wicket in the game. It has been a horrifying campaign for the CSK skipper, and it continues as well. The 21 balls by Ruturaj Gaikwad are the most balls without a boundary by an opener in IPL 2026.
Midway through the first innings, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming spoke after being asked about Gaikwad's playing style and slow strike rate in the match. Fleming said, “One boy bats all the way and other goes for it & gonna be difficult because of slow surface as well as we are not just aggressive and Rutu knows how to handle it.”
Fans react after Ruturaj falls cheaply, playing a slow innings
There is no problem if Ruturaj Gaikwad starts slow the problem is that he can’t accelerate.
— kavya (@kavya_8969) May 18, 2026
His approach is defensive and not like T20s.
Here is the English translation of your statement:
— Adv Luku Prakash Borah (@luku_prakash) May 18, 2026
"First of all, release Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Prashant Veer, and Dewald Brevis before the upcoming auction."@ChennaiIPL
Just when I thought no one could be worse than Ajinkya Rahane, I watched this Ruturaj Gaikwad knock 😭
— StarcyKKR (@StarcKKR) May 18, 2026
Not a single boundary and even the commentators were openly cooking him on air.
CSK fans, you deserve better. pic.twitter.com/Jbsm4SVTLR
In honour to Thala Dhoni's Last ipl match at Chepauk stadium Ruturaj Gaikwad played Dhoni Coded innings in front of him
— E=MC ² (@SLuffy35299) May 18, 2026
What a Tribute Man 👏 https://t.co/Hhg7629tDa
#Ruturaj Gaikwad himself is the reason for CSK's poor batting performance this season. Someone like sarfaraz has been sitting out and he's doing tuk-tuk in the powerplay, that too when the whole season has been the such high scoring #CSKvsSRH pic.twitter.com/VXSTDD3L2I
— Mufaddal Shailu (@Shailu_15Jul) May 18, 2026
I don't wanna see Ruturaj for CSK again. Shitty cricket
— DEonStrike (@GeekOnCrease) May 18, 2026
Ruturaj didn't bat, he loitered
— Vyrat Koolhi (@unknownmanindia) May 18, 2026
Pathetic batting and captaincy by ruturaj
— Arman Patel (@discplinedtrder) May 18, 2026
Sole reason for csk underperformance
Also Read: Sakib Hussain bamboozles Urvil Patel in CSK vs SRH clash
