Ahead of IPL 2025 Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has warned other teams against attempts to sledge his teammates. The CSK opener, who took over the reigns from MS Dhoni before the start of IPL 2024, will now lead the team for the second time. Unlike his predecessor – Captain Cool MS Dhoni – Gaikwad seems to have very little patience, especially when it comes to his teammates being sledged.
Gaikwad’s warning to CSK’s rivals ahead of IPL 2025
In a video, Gaikwad says that he is okay with being sledged individually during IPL 2025. However, the CSK captain said that it would be very tough for him to hold back if his teammates are being sledged, especially under his watch as captain.
“If someone sledges me, I’m more than happy to not say anything. But, if I’m the captain and someone is sledging at my teammates, then I’m not someone who can hold back,” Gaikwad said.
Latest news
- DRS, Feb 14: Parag pips Jaiswal, rain threat in IND vs PAK match & is Abhishek Sharma fit?
![Will Abhishek Sharma play IND vs PAK T20 World Cup match? Varun Chakaravarthy breaks silence]()
- ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table: Latest Standings of Group A, B, C and D
![ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Points Table: Latest Standings of Group A, B, C and D]()
- ICC T20 World Cup 2026 most runs & wickets: Tim Seifert & Shadley van Schalkwyk lead the charts
![Suryakumar Yadav enters ICC Top 10 T20I rankings before T20 World Cup 2026]()
Gaikwad on MS Dhoni’s role as CSK captain
“Just a week before the tournament last year, MS Dhoni came up to me and said, ‘I’m not leading this year—you are.’ I was taken aback, asking, ‘From the first game? Are you sure?’ With just a few days to prepare, it was overwhelming.
Gaikwad asserted that Dhoni has granted full authority of decision to him but the CSK opener takes help on some on-field calls. “But he assured me, ‘This is your team. You make your own decisions. I won’t interfere—except when field placements are a 50-50 call. Even then, it’s not a compulsion to follow my advice. That trust meant a lot to me.”
