Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has suggested that Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad should adopt a more aggressive approach while batting to boost the team’s scoring rate in T20 cricket. Gaikwad’s slow start in IPL 2026, with only 56 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 103.70, has raised questions about his role in the team.
Jaffer emphasized the importance of Gaikwad providing a strong start as an opener without necessarily aiming for high individual scores from the beginning. He believes that Gaikwad, despite having the ability to score big, needs to take more risks to accelerate the scoring rate.
Former Australia opener Aaron Finch echoed Jaffer’s sentiments, pointing out that Gaikwad is currently struggling to strike a balance between setting a quick pace at the start and controlling the game later on. Finch highlighted the need for Gaikwad to focus on making a significant impact on matches rather than just accumulating runs.
Jaffer also encouraged Gaikwad to learn from Virat Kohli’s adaptability in changing his game over the years. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing impact on the game rather than solely focusing on scoring runs, citing Kohli as an example of a player who successfully evolved his approach to batting.
