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Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad recently gave a lighthearted and touching moment in an interview with sports anchor Bhavna Balakrishnan.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s lighthearted perspective on CSK’s youngest player
When questioned about the youngest CSK player to look out for in IPL 2025, Gaikwad comically mentioned MS Dhoni, the iconic cricketer who has been the backbone of the franchise since their inception.
The unexpected response left fans and the presenter in splits, as Dhoni, at 43 years old, is far from being the youngest player in the squad. Gaikwad’s witty remark was a playful nod to Dhoni’s enduring presence and influence on the team. Despite stepping down as captain ahead of IPL 2024, Dhoni continues to be an integral part of CSK as a mentor and wicketkeeper.
Gaikwad’s respect for Dhoni is well known. He has talked about the faith and freedom Dhoni gave him while relinquishing the captaincy last year on multiple occasions.
Also READ: IPL 2025 – Salary of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) players; check out how much Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni earn
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s IPL career
Gaikwad, a young talent of Indian cricket, debuted in IPL with CSK in 2020. In his four seasons so far, he has become a mainstay, scoring more than 2,300 runs in 66 games at a massive average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 136.86.
In 2021, the performance of Gaikwad reached its crescendo as he claimed the Orange Cap, contributing 635 runs in 16 games, capped with a hundred and four fifty-plus scores. He registered the fastest-ever Indian to record 2,000 IPL runs in the year 2024, cementing his status further as a dynamic opener.
Gaikwad’s reliability is evidenced by his history of making three successive fifties in deciding games and being the first CSK player to do so. His performances have been instrumental in CSK title charges, demonstrating his batting skills. With two centuries and eighteen half-centuries to his credit, Gaikwad is set to be the core player in CSK’s forthcoming activities in the IPL.
