IPL 2026: CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled at home against PBKS. (AP Photo)

CSK vs PBKS: Chennai turns up for Ruturaj at toss, goes silent seeing him bat

CSK vs PBKS: Chennai Super Kings fans fell silent temporarily on Friday, after their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad played a stuttering innings in their first home game. Gaikwad, got out for 28 off 22 balls.

03 Apr 2026, 15:41 by India Today Sports Desk · India Today

In Short

Chennai Super Kings were once again off to a stuttering start
CSK openers have now failed in both games
The home team were rescued by young Ayush Mhatre

The mood at the MA Chidambaram Stadium took a big hit in Chennai Super Kings' first home game. What started with a rousing ovation for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad at the toss turned into utter silence after the CSK captain once again played a stuttering innings in the Indian Premier League's 2026 season.

Batting with Sanju Samson and then young Ayush Mhatre, Gaikwad never really got going and ended up playing a poor knock of 28 off 22, which completely took the zip out of Chennai's top order.

| IPL 2026: CSK vs PBKS Updates, Scorecard |

But it was not entirely his fault. Sent in to bat first on a pitch that looked quite flat, CSK were jolted early on. Sanju Samson edged it back to the keeper in the second over while trying to drive Xavier Bartlett. That seemed to push Gaikwad into his shell, one he never really came out of.

Having hit just two fours in his 22-ball stay, Gaikwad's innings ended in the 12th over, off what was arguably one of the most innocuous deliveries of the innings, a wide down the leg side.

Such was the batter's form that he chased the ball and swept it, only to find the lone fielder stationed at the boundary, Nehal Wadhera.

The Chepauk crowd, at its noisiest at the start of the match, fell silent as their captain slowly walked off, head down in disappointment.

Cricket fans on X were not pleased with Gaikwad's innings either and criticised the batter for his second failure of the season.

Chennai Super Kings were rescued on Friday by a superb innings from Ayush Mhatre, who scored 73 off just 43 balls, before being dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal. Apart from young Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan played a lovely cameo, 32 off 12 balls, to provide a late charge for the home team. All-rounder Shivam Dube capitalised on the same in the final two overs, and helped CSK to 2089 runs for the loss of 5 wickets against Punjab Kings.

- Ends