During Match 63 of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, where Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hosted Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad once again struggled to score runs this season. The male captain in yellow started the innings and continued scoring runs.
Ruturaj won the toss and chose to bat first on a wicket that was dry and could be slow, and could assist spinners. But despite batting first, the Chennai captain struggled to break his chains and played another slow innings. Questions have been raised on Ruturaj regarding his low strike rate and not being able to score many big scores.
CSK won the toss and decided to bat
The players of the yellow team made only one change and included Akeel Hosein in place of Gurjapneet Singh. After electing to bat first, Sanju Samson gave a solid start to the Men in Yellow, scoring 27 runs in 13 balls before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. Soon, the dangerous Urvil Patel was back with 13 runs. Then Karthik Sharma took command of the offensive.
They scored 57/2 in the power play, despite getting the start from Sanju Samson, the captain failed to take advantage of this momentum. Karthik Sharma and Gaikwad built a partnership between them; The former player was playing shots and looked in good touch but could not convert his start into a big score and Cummins once again took the wicket and Karthik was out after scoring 32 runs off 19 balls.
Ruturaj Gaikwad failed again
Before this game, Ruturaj 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. Tonight the captain lacked the clarity to score runs aggressively or take chances in the power play.
However, Ruturaj did not hit a single four in the 21 balls he faced in the match and was dismissed by Cummins on the very next ball at the score of 15 as he took his third wicket in the game. It has been a dreadful campaign for the CSK captain and it still continues. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 21 balls are the most balls without a boundary by an opener in IPL 2026.
Midway through the first innings, CSK head coach Stephen Fleming spoke when asked about Gaikwad’s playing style and slow strike rate in the match. “One guy bats all the way and the other goes for it and that’s going to be difficult because of the slow surface and also we’re just not aggressive and Ruutu knows how to handle that,” Fleming said.
Fans’ reaction after Ruturaj, who was playing a slow innings, got out cheaply.
There is no problem if Ruturaj Gaikwad starts slow, the problem is that he cannot accelerate.
Their approach is defensive and not like T20.
– Kavya (@kavya_8969) 18 May 2026
Here is the English translation of your statement:
“First of all, release Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dubey, Prashant Veer and Dewald Brewis before the upcoming auction.”@ChennaiIPL– Advocate Luku Prakash Bora (@luku_prakash) 18 May 2026
Just when I thought no one could be worse than Ajinkya Rahane, then I saw this innings of Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Not a single four and even the commentators were openly roasting him on air.
CSK fans, you deserve better. pic.twitter.com/Jbsm4SVTLR
– StarcKKR (@StarcKKR) 18 May 2026
In honor of Thala Dhoni’s last IPL match at Chepauk Stadium, Ruturaj Gaikwad played Dhoni coded innings in front of him.
What a tribute man 👏 https://t.co/Hhg7629tDa
– E=MC² (@SLuffy35299) 18 May 2026
#rituraj Gaikwad himself is the reason for CSK’s poor batting this season. Someone like Sarfaraz is sitting out and he is tuk-tuk in the powerplay, that too when the entire season has been so high scoring. #CSKvsSRH pic.twitter.com/VXSTDD3L2I
– Mufaddal Shailu (@Shailu_15Jul) 18 May 2026
I don’t want to see Ruturaj for CSK again. bad cricket
– DEonStrike (@GeekOnCrease) 18 May 2026
Ruturaj did not bat, he wandered away
– Virat Kulhi (@unknownmanindia) 18 May 2026
Ruturaj’s pathetic batting and captaincy
The only reason for CSK’s poor performance– Arman Patel (@discplinedtrder) 18 May 2026
Also read: Saqib Hussain defeats Urvil Patel in CSK vs SRH match
