Chennai Super Kings have been dealt a major blow in the middle of IPL 2025 as their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a fractured elbow. The 28-year-old sustained the injury during a match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 while facing pacer Tushar Deshpande. Although Gaikwad played two more matches afterward, the injury worsened, and an MRI scan later confirmed a fracture.
Confirming the development on the eve of CSK’s home match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Head Coach Stephen Fleming said, “He got injured in Guwahati. He was in considerable pain. The initial X-ray was inconclusive, but the MRI revealed a fracture in the radial neck of his elbow.”
Fleming praised Gaikwad’s commitment and added, “We really appreciate his efforts to continue playing, but unfortunately, he will now miss the remainder of the tournament. MS Dhoni will step in as captain for the rest of the season.”
MS Dhoni, 43, led Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2024 and is one of the most successful captains in IPL history, winning five titles for CSK in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023. The franchise had earlier handed over the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022, but Dhoni resumed the role mid-season following a series of poor performances.
Ruturaj’s exit comes at a critical time for CSK, who have lost four of their first five matches and currently sit ninth in the points table. His absence means the team will now have to play without their skipper and top-order mainstay. Gaikwad had been CSK’s top run-scorer in three of the last four seasons.
Fleming also mentioned that the team will evaluate internal options before looking outside for a replacement. “There’s no hesitation when it comes to Dhoni stepping up. We’ll first consider our bench strength, but we’re open to bringing in a replacement if necessary. This is also a chance to think ahead and build for the future,” he said.
Chennai Super Kings will now look to bounce back under the experienced leadership of MS Dhoni as they aim to climb the standings in the remaining fixtures of the tournament.
