table of contents
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been in sensational form in List A matches. He scored 274 runs at an average of 54.80 in 5 innings for India-A in the Sri Lanka-A team Tri-Series (ODI) 2026. He finished as the top run-scorer of the tournament and displayed his amazing talent for the India A national cricket team while batting at number 4.
Ruturaj Gaikwad played a key role in India A’s title-winning campaign, helping them seal a 66-run win over Sri Lanka A in the final. However, despite amazing performances in List A games for the Men in Blue, he was not selected in the ODI squad announced for the three-match England ODI series away from home, starting in July.
Ruturaj Gaikwad opens up on his relationship with MS Dhoni
Recently, Ruturaj Gaikwad gave an exclusive interview with Sportstar, where he also talked about MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and his relationship with the fans. He also talked about dealing with injuries, handling the pressure of captaincy and the leadership lessons he learned from Dhoni at CSK.
When asked about the lessons he learned from MS Dhoni, he said that the former Indian captain advised him not to complicate things too much, keep things simple, don’t overthink and keep things flowing in your own way.
“One thing I have learned from him is to keep things very simple and not complicate things too much. Sometimes, as a responsible player in the team, you overthink about the decisions. You think about all the ifs and buts. With him, I feel he keeps things really simple. He lets things play out as they are and then comes to a conclusion.”
He has carried forward Dhoni’s legacy and captaincy over the years- Ruturaj Gaikwad
“That simplicity is something he has maintained over the years. There have also been a lot of results that have supported that process. For me, it’s about balancing that with my own thought process and trying to understand how I can help the team win.”
“Results are something that any team definitely needs, so you try and get into that thought process of how you can help the team. It’s about executing the plans.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad wants fans to keep their heads high in difficult times
Furthermore, Ruturaj Gaikwad has a message for CSK fans after a somewhat disappointing season during which they failed to qualify for the playoffs. He has asked the fans to continue believing in the team and supporting them and believes that they will once again give their best performance.
“Just be patient, we have seen some great days in the last 14 or 15 years. We still believe we are one of the best franchises in the IPL. There will be ups and downs. It is important to support every player who represents CSK. Every player who plays for CSK feels something special about representing the franchise.”
“Everyone wants to do more for the team. Sometimes things don’t work out the way we want, but all the players are working hard to get the team to where the fans want to see it. Hopefully, we’ll get there.”