Former Chennai Super Kings star Shane Watson has advised supporters and experts to have patience with Ruturaj Gaikwad, saying that the Chennai Super Kings captain will improve as a leader with time. Ruturaj was encouraged by the former CSK opener to establish himself in the Super Kings lineup. Watson's comments coincide with CSK's difficult IPL 2025 campaign start, as they have dropped three of their first four games.
Watson on Gaikwad
During a JioStar-organized interview with IndiaToday.in, Watson stated that although Ruturaj is still in the early phases of his leadership development, he is gradually learning how to apply the advice of great players like Stephen Fleming and MS Dhoni to his own captaincy style. This season, Ruturaj Gaikwad has drawn criticism for a few dubious on-field choices. Expectations have increased this year, even if he was given some leniency in 2024 because it was his first season as captain after assuming the armband.
"Look, first of all, when it comes to Ruturaj's captaincy-he's still relatively young in that role, and he would've learned a hell of a lot from last season. He's got two of the best leaders world cricket has seen in the last 30 years helping and guiding him. You've got Stephen Fleming, who was an incredible captain and tactician, and now, as a coach, he's an outstanding man-manager. And then, of course, you've got MS Dhoni, one of the greatest captains the game has ever seen," Watson said.
"The learning environment for Ruturaj couldn't be better. But it's not until you're out in the middle that you really start figuring it all out. It would have taken him at least a year to navigate how to get the best out of himself-how to apply the information and knowledge he has, how to prepare, and how to lean on MS when needed, or on Fleming during strategic timeouts.
"Having those resources is massive, but it takes time to learn how to make the most of them. From what I've seen, he's just getting better and better. He's continuing to learn, and that's the kind of person Ruturaj is. The more experience he gets, the more he'll grow," he added.
Ruturaj's management of CSK's well-known spin arsenal is one significant area in which he has come under fire. He has found it difficult to use all 20 overs of his three elite spinners in each of their four games this season. Gaikwad has apparently underestimated the placement of his bowlers, even in home circumstances where spin is favorable. Watson, however, stood up for the young captain, arguing that the team's leadership group frequently contributes to these tactical choices rather than making them alone.
"As for how he manages spin-especially in matches where he's had to use his full quota of spinners-that's always going to be interesting, particularly at home in Chennai when the ball is turning. But as captain, those decisions aren't made in isolation. There are two strategic timeouts, a huge amount of preparation before the game, and a lot of information being passed along.
"Yes, he makes the final call on the field, but it's more of a collective decision-whether to bowl out the spinners or turn to the quicks. I wouldn't just put the microscope on Ruturaj for those calls. He's definitely getting feedback from the incredible leaders around him, which helps shape the decisions he makes in real-time on the field," he said.