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Following Chennai Super Kings' six-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash in Guwahati, former India's star batter Manoj Tiwary has delivered scathing criticism towards CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Manoj Tiwary expressed his frustration with Gaikwad's perceived stubbornness and reluctance to acknowledge the team's recurring errors, particularly in the wake of consecutive losses in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is under too much pressure: Monoj Tiwary
Before going down to Rajasthan Royals, CSK suffered a crushing 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Chepauk, marking CSK's first home defeat against RCB since the inaugural IPL season in 2008. Tiwary's dissatisfaction stemmed from Gaikwad's post-match remarks, where the CSK captain said that their losing margin wasn't that big.
Further fueling Tiwary's critique were Gaikwad's comments after the Rajasthan Royals match. Gaikwad stated that RR was on track to score over 210 runs, but CSK managed to restrict them to 182/9. He then attributed the losses to the team's poor starts, a sentiment that Tiwary seemingly viewed as an evasion of deeper issues.
Tiwary feels Ruturaj is under too much pressure. He also said that Gaikwad's reluctance to address CSK's shortcomings, coupled with their failure to qualify for the playoffs in the previous season under his captaincy, indicates a deeper issue within the team's leadership.
Gaikwad's leadership is facing increasing scrutiny from fans and cricket analysts alike, as CSK grapple with inconsistent form in the IPL 2025 season.
“The kind of statements Ruturaj Gaikwad has been giving after the matches, I cannot digest them. It seems like he is being too adamant and not accepting that mistakes are being made. In the last match against RCB, when MS Dhoni batted at No. 9, Ruturaj Gaikwad said he was happy that the side lost by just 50 runs. This is no statement to give,” Tiwary was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
In the post-match discussion, Ruturaj attempted to lighten the concerns surrounding his batting position. Despite not opening the innings for CSK this season, he quipped that he still gets to bat within the first or second over. Not just Ruturaj's, questions are also raised on MS Dhoni's lower batting order when he came to bat at no.9 during RCB clash. Tiwary also feels Ruturaj wants to speak his mind but cannot as he is under too much pressure.
“The entire world was saying Dhoni should have batted higher. I think Captain Gaikwad is under too much pressure. I think he wants to speak his mind but cannot. Either he wants to defend the team because he is the captain,” he added.
As it stands, CSK find themselves in the seventh position on the 2025 IPL points table, having collected only two points from their initial three matches in the IPL 2025. The five-time IPL champions will have an opportunity to improve their standing when they take on the Delhi Capitals in their upcoming fixture which is slated to be held on April 5.
