Ruturaj Gaikwad did not try to dress it up. Chennai Super Kings began IPL 2026 with three defeats on the bounce, stumbled into a run of injuries, and finally bowed out of the play-off race after an 89-run loss to Gujarat Titans on Thursday. Six wins, eight losses – a line that looks ordinary on paper. Yet, as the young captain put it, the campaign still offered enough to feel “really proud of the unit”.
“We are in a transition phase,” Gaikwad reminded reporters after the match. “Not many people actually buy the fact that we are a young team… eight to 10 players have played just below 20 games. It’s good exposure for them, especially this year.”
Key facts first
• CSK finished 7th with a 6-8 record.
• Serious injuries to seam-bowling all-rounders Jamie Overton and Ramakrishna Ghosh arrived just as momentum had been found.
• A pair of narrow defeats to Sunrisers Hyderabad ultimately proved decisive.
Finding – then losing – rhythm
“Well, tough season to start, especially the hat-trick of losses,” Gaikwad said. “Once we found that momentum, we found guys playing at the right spot, the right combination, everything started working. And then, a couple of injuries again and again didn’t really help much… we were always playing a batter short or playing a bowler short in the last three games.”
Those selection compromises told. CSK had won six of eight in mid-season; without Overton and Ghosh they dropped the last three. A glance at the run-rate charts shows the bowling group bore the heavier load – two of those defeats came while defending totals that looked par at halfway.
Missed chances in Hyderabad and Chennai
“When we travelled to Hyderabad, we missed out on chasing 84 in 10 overs,” the skipper recalled. “And then even last time when we played in Chennai, we could have restricted them to 180. A couple of games where we could have just got over the line, failed to do that, but still very much proud.”
Development of the younger core
CSK’s reputation for leaning on senior pros is well-earned, yet 2026 presented a different picture. Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu, so central to the 2023 title, were absent; in their place came Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis and 20-year-old left-hander Kartik Sharma.
“Moving on from the likes of Ajinkya Rahane or Ambati Rayudu… Kartik obviously impressed a lot,” Gaikwad said. “He has a lot of potential going ahead, obviously a lot of areas to improve.” The numbers back that up: Kartik averaged 31 at a strike-rate of 139, but his boundary percentage dipped sharply against spin – a clear next step.
What about Dhoni?
Inevitable questions on MS Dhoni’s future followed. Gaikwad kept it brief: we will only get to know “next year”. Given Dhoni’s history of quiet, last-minute calls, that was hardly a surprise.
Looking ahead
CSK’s analysts are already poring over powerplay wickets (only 11 all season) and death-overs economy (11.2 runs per over in the final four). Both areas invite reinforcements at the auction. For the batting, an extra finisher to partner Shivam Dube would ease pressure on the inexperienced middle order.
Yet the captain preferred to dwell on the broader picture. “To get those six wins and a couple of great wins as well, I’m really proud,” he said, before heading for the team bus. A messy season, yes, but one that may age well if the raw talent around him matures as CSK hope.
