NEW DELHI: Ruturaj Gaikwad finds himself in the daunting position of leading the illustrious Chennai Super Kings franchise in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League, following in the footsteps of the legendary MS Dhoni.
Gaikwad, who once played under the iconic Dhoni, now shoulders the responsibility of guiding CSK to success in the tournament.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan weighed in on the challenges Gaikwad faces, emphasizing the immense pressure that comes with stepping into the shoes of a cricketing deity like Dhoni.”He (Gaikwad) has taken over from a God,” Vaughan remarked on Cricbuzz. “This situation is like Sir Alex Ferguson is still in the dressing room when the new manager comes in. MS Dhoni is still there. It must be so hard. It is difficult to captain MS but I think it is MS who took that decision to step aside.”
Despite the weight of expectations, Gaikwad’s tenure as CSK captain began on a positive note with consecutive victories against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. However, the team faced setbacks with two successive defeats before finding redemption against Kolkata Knight Riders, with Gaikwad himself playing a pivotal role with a match-winning half-century.

Reflecting on Gaikwad’s performance, Vaughan highlighted the importance of the CSK skipper focusing on his batting prowess to navigate the challenges of leadership amidst Dhoni’s enduring influence.
“I am yet to see Ruturaj look completely in control in the middle. The only advice I would give him is to focus on getting as many runs as you possibly can. If he can do that, I think his team will be in a better position and that’s the only way he can get that feel-good factor if the team wins,” Vaughan advised.
As CSK continue their campaign in IPL 2024, currently standing fourth on the points table, all eyes will be on Ruturaj Gaikwad as he leads his team into battle against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium this Sunday.