Social media went into a frenzy after a video surfaced showing Ruturaj Gaikwad taking part in warm-up football drills with his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammates ahead of their IPL 2025 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). What made this moment particularly intriguing was that Gaikwad, CSK’s regular skipper, has officially been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a hairline fracture in his elbow—an injury sustained earlier in the tournament.
Despite this setback, the Maharashtra-born batter seemed cheerful and physically fine in the clip, which sparked curiosity and controversy online. Several fans questioned the seriousness of the injury, suggesting that if he was fit enough to jog and play football, perhaps the decision to rule him out was premature. While CSK management has confirmed the fracture, the footage has given rise to speculation.
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Gaikwad, known for his graceful batting, has been hailed as a future Indian cricket star. But as a captain, his tenure hasn’t been the smoothest. In the 18 matches he’s led CSK, he has managed just eight wins with a win percentage of 44.44—leaving room for criticism.
Injured Ruturaj gaikwad playing football currently. pic.twitter.com/dNJgQ7Dn4S
— Juylov Vladislav (@juylov_vlad) April 10, 2025
With Gaikwad sidelined, the reins have been handed back to the legendary MS Dhoni, who will captain CSK for the rest of the season. Under Dhoni’s leadership, the franchise has secured five IPL titles, and fans are now hoping for another fairytale comeback as they look to revive a campaign that has seen just one win in five matches.
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CSK will take on the defending champions KKR in their next encounter at Chepauk, and with Dhoni back at the helm, the Yellow Army will be eager to script a turnaround. The spotlight now shifts from speculation to strategy, as CSK hopes experience trumps crisis.
