Mar 23: A new era began for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday (March 22) as the defending champions commenced their journey in the IPL 2024 season with a resounding victory over old rivals Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The Yellow Army is now being led by young India cricketer Ruturaj Gaikwad after legendary captain MS Dhoni stepped down before the start of the new season, passing the baton to the next generation.
By defeating RCB in a clinical fashion encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Gaikwad – who has led Maharashtra in the domestic circuit and helped India win a maiden Gold at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou – was reminiscent of his predecessor as he started his IPL captaincy career with a win.
Notable performances for CSK came from their debutants Mustafizur Rahman and Rachin Ravindra as they set the tone for an emphatic win, but it was the astute leadership of Gaikwad that drew significant attention and acclaim.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, lauded Gaikwad’s impressive captaincy debut. Gavaskar praised Gaikwad’s strategic bowling changes, particularly the way he utilised Bangladesh pacer Rahman and his faith in Tushar Deshpande during the crucial final over.
“Your debut as a captain becomes very important. You want to begin your captaincy career well with a win and that’s exactly what happened (with Ruturaj Gaikwad). What was impressive was his bowling changes. Because when you saw the way he kept on changing Mustafizur; the way he used Mustafizur was absolutely terrific.
“He kept swapping Deepak Chahar, keeping faith in Tushar Deshpande for that final over. I think seeing that Tushar Deshpande had been taken for 25, there was an opportunity to use another bowler, but he still stuck to Tushar Deshpande, and Deshpande responded with a brilliant final over. So, yes, I think the captaincy was most impressive,” Gavaskar said.
The former India captain further noted Gaikwad’s composure and decision-making, emphasising the importance of having MS Dhoni’s guidance and support in the background.
“And we see over here, he has, of course, MS Dhoni around him, to guide him, tell him and give him encouragement. Sometimes, that little nod from somebody as experienced and as accomplished as MSD makes a big difference,” the batting great added further.
With a commanding debut performance, Gaikwad has already showcased his leadership prowess and cricketing acumen. However, as the IPL journey unfolds, the young captain faces a myriad of challenges that will not only test his skills.
The 27-year-old is likely to encounter further challenges as the tournament unfolds and the true measure of a captain’s mettle lies in how he responds to defeat. It remains intriguing to observe how CSK and Gaikwad rebound after encountering obstacles along the way.
Avinash Sharma Mykhel
source: mykhel.com