Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has backed Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings skipper, emphasizing that Gaikwad should not be judged solely on one challenging IPL season. Finch highlighted the demanding and unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, urging against hasty assessments based on a single campaign. He praised Gaikwad’s leadership qualities and composure on the field, suggesting that the young captain needs to rediscover his batting form to perform consistently.
Gaikwad faced another tough match, scoring 15 runs as CSK set a target of 180/7 after being put in to bat. Despite a quick start by Sanju Samson and a top score of 44 by Dewald Brevis, CSK struggled to accelerate. SRH’s Pat Cummins shone with the ball, claiming 3/28 and reaching 200 T20 wickets. Sakib and other young bowlers also contributed with crucial wickets, restricting CSK’s total.
In response, SRH overcame an early setback to chase down the target, led by Ishan Kishan’s 70 and Heinrich Klaasen’s 47. The win secured SRH’s spot in the playoffs, joining Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Meanwhile, CSK, under Gaikwad’s leadership, faces ongoing scrutiny as they continue their rebuilding phase in the tournament.
