Nothing seems working out for Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) and its captain Ruturaj Gaikwad so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The five-time champions have played three matches so far but met same losing fate in all of them. Not happy with team's performance and Gaikwad's captaincy, former CSK stars Lakshmipathy Balaji and Subramaniam Badrinath chose to speak up and talk about what's going wrong in the side.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's captaincy acumen comes under scanner
CSK have struggled to find their rhythm since the previous season, where they finished at the bottom of the standings with ten losses. This current slump has placed them in a similarly precarious position, raising concerns about the team's ability to bounce back.
Balaji expressed his frustration on Subramaniam Badrinath’s YouTube channel, specifically questioning Gaikwad’s tactical handling of Jamie Overton. In the high-scoring fest against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the English all-rounder initially impressed by taking a wicket and conceding only 12 runs in his first two overs. However, Balaji questioned the decision to hold him back rather than letting him finish his spell while he had the momentum.
A good captain will finish his secondary bowlers when it's going well: Lakshmipathy Balaji
The consequences of this decision proved costly at the end of the match. When Overton was finally brought back to bowl the 19th over, he was met with a fierce onslaught from Tim David, who cleared the ropes four times in a single over. This 30-run blitz shifted the momentum entirely, leaving Overton with expensive final figures of 1/42. Balaji argued that secondary bowlers like Overton should not be used in the high-pressure death overs, suggesting instead that the captain should exhaust their overs earlier to save runs. Looking ahead, Balaji recommended significant changes to the CSK playing XI to address their systemic issues. He advocated for the inclusion of West Indian spinner Akeal Hosein in place of Prashant Veer, the franchise's ₹14.2 crore auction buy, noting that Veer has had a limited role with the ball. According to Balaji, the Super Kings currently face challenges across every department, from leadership and top-order batting to their pace and spin bowling resources.
"A good captain will finish his secondary bowlers when it's going well. That will save 20 runs in the end. Like Overton, when you give just 13 off 2 overs, what's the use of coming back later and giving 40 in the other two? He should have finished his four when he was bowling well. Is Overton going to win you a game with four or five wickets in the death overs? Akeal Hosein must play instead of Prashant Veer. It's about him. This is the place for him in the 11," Balaji said.
"Just don't bowl Overton in the death. The match will be over there itself. But at the moment, it feels like CSK have issues in every department from top to middle order to spin and pace bowling, along with captaincy," he added.
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CSK's auction strategy slammed
Meanwhile, Badrinath highlighting another big reason behind CSK's rusty campaign. He criticised CSK's recent recruitment strategy in the auction. Speaking on the team's struggles, he questioned the management’s decision to invest a staggering Rs 14.20 crore each into young players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Badrinath suggested that the immense pressure accompanying such high price tags has hindered their performance, leading to a significant failure to meet expectations on the field so far this season.
"Picking Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer for 14 crores isn't the players' fault. It is the franchise's mistake. You don't need some big coach or analyst to pick these two at 14 crores. It's when you pick these players at 50 Lakhs that you showcase your skill in this. So this is the management's fault, not the players'," Badrinath said.