Kamal Ghorui
As Ruturaj Gaikwad begins to rediscover his form, former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes Chennai Super Kings are growing increasingly dangerous with each passing game.Gaikwad, known for his consistency in domestic and franchise cricket, endured a difficult start to IPL 2026. In his first seven matches, the CSK skipper managed just 104 runs, with a highest score of 28. However, signs of a turnaround emerged in last Sunday’s game against Gujarat Titans, where he struck an unbeaten 74 off 60 balls.He carried that momentum into Saturday’s clash against Mumbai Indians, producing a composed 67 off 48 deliveries. His knock played a key role in CSK’s clinical all-round performance, as they secured an eight-wicket win at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium to complete a league double over MI.Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live’, Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about Ruturaj Gaikwad’s regaining form:“Everyone was talking about his form. This innings was a result of the previous game. It was a challenging wicket, the GT game, and the time he spent in the middle and the knock he played, you cannot compare it with the likes of Vaibhav Suryavanshi or Abhishek Sharma. On wickets like these, this is how you should play. Ruturaj played with a great tempo in this game and read the conditions well. His role was important; if CSK had lost one or two more wickets, the pressure would have increased on their batting line-up. He took responsibility, and the way he played, CSK are becoming more dangerous with every match,” Ashwin said After a strong start, MI collapsed from a promising position to finish at 159/7, with Naman Dhir top-scoring with 57. The middle order once again faltered, unable to capitalise despite a solid platform. CSK’s bowling was led by Anshul Kamboj (3/32), while Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton applied consistent pressure through the middle overs.In reply, CSK chased down the target comfortably, powered by an unbeaten 67 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a steady 54* from Kartik Sharma. The victory at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium not only completed a league double over their arch-rivals but also dealt a significant blow to Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes, while keeping CSK firmly in contention.
