IPL 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad Gets Sunil Gavaskar Praise After Leading CSK To Win On Captaincy Debut

Chennai: Legendary Sunil Gavaskar was mighty impressed with Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership after defending champions Chennai Super Kings started IPL 2024 with a win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Although it was on the cards, Gaikwad was handed over the captaincy just a day before the tournament started as MS Dhoni decided to step down. For the record, Dhoni has been at the helm of CSK for 14 years, since the inception of IPL in 2008.

Gavaskar, who is working as a commentator in IPL 2024, lauded Gaikwad’s decision-making and the way he maneuvered his bowlers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Not even once Gaikwad felt under pressure, rather enjoyed his captaincy debut with a six-wicket win on Friday night.

“Absolutely! Your debut as a captain becomes very important. You want to begin your captaincy career well with a win and that’s exactly what happened. What was impressive was his bowling changes,” the former India skipper told Star Sports.

“Because when you saw the way he kept on changing Mustafizur; the way he used Mustafizur was absolutely terrific. He kept swapping Deepak Chahar, keeping faith in Tushar Deshpande for that final over,” he added. Gavaskar also heaped praise on Gaikwad for the way he backed Deshpande despite the bowler being taken for 25 runs in an over.

“I think seeing that Tushar Deshpande had been taken for 25, there was an opportunity to use another bowler, but he still stuck to Tushar Deshpande, and Deshpande responded with a brilliant final over. So, yes, I think the captaincy was most impressive.”

Bangladesh pacer Rahman produced a superb show, returning with his best IPL figures of 4/29 to rattle RCB’s top-order before they managed 173/6. Gavaskar also feels the presence of Dhoni made a big difference.

“And we see over here, he has, of course, MS Dhoni around him, to guide him, tell him and give him the encouragement. Sometimes, that little nod from somebody as experienced and as accomplished as MSD, makes a big difference,” he said.

Gavaskar feels RCB kept bowling the short ball far too many times even though it wasn’t working. “Yes, try the short ball by all means, but when it wasn’t working … it looked like that’s all they were looking to do. You had somebody like a Dagar, who had bowled 2 overs for 6 six runs. I know the way the left-hand spinner can be picked for 6, but you got to take a chance,” he said.

“All that they did, Joseph, Green, Siraj, everybody go in short. What was happening was that if you don’t get the bouncer right, you are going to give it a wide, which means you’re giving an extra run, you are going to bowl an extra delivery.

“So, your bouncer has to be very accurate, and it wasn’t. That one-dimensional tactic was really disappointing.”