Gaikwad said, “I don’t want to be a certain kind of character.” “Like things to flow the way they’re flowing. Keep the culture of CSK going basically. That’s what I feel. With the success we’ve had, the things we’ve been doing, I wouldn’t change even a little bit Don’t want to do it.” I just want to come in there, take my own decisions and give myself as much freedom as possible because that’s what it’s been like since I joined CSK, nothing has really changed and I’m enjoying it. I am staying.’
Gaikwad was bought by CSK for IPL 2019. He didn’t play any games that season and had a slow start in 2020, but the team stuck with him and both have received awards since. He holds the Orange Cap and his performances have helped him win two titles. The support he has felt over the years is something he now wants to give to others.
How did Gaikwad know that he would be the captain of CSK?
Amidst the training session with Dhoni, Gaikwad was informed about his additional responsibility this season.
“To be honest, there wasn’t really any deep conversation, I guess…it was very chilled out. I would just say a conversation. We were just practicing and he came over and told me all this stuff. Obviously But for everyone else, for other people on the outside, they might think they have bigger needs to meet but I think I will always be me and I would like to continue the culture that has been created.
“I remember in 2022 when they told me, maybe not next year, but after that you might get a chance to lead, so be ready for it. So obviously after that I was always ready for it. For me It was nothing new or a surprise or a shock. I know how to control the game. I know how the game goes, when to do what to do, as I was doing last year as well. Fleming and I know every After the game we used to discuss captaincy, how I feel, what changes come, what changes come in bowling, I felt we need to do this or that, every game we have one-on-one talks. Which really helped.
Has captaincy affected Gaikwad’s batting?
Gaikwad has scored 155 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 117.42. He has had to work with a new opening partner this year, an IPL newbie in Rachin Ravindra. Have any of these changes forced him to bat differently?
“There are some things that people outside don’t really know about,” Gaikwad said. “Last year, the three, four matches we started were in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai and then in Chennai. All those games were on flat wickets. So I think the pitch really matters a lot.
“Sometimes there are phases where you get good balls. Sometimes there are phases where you’re a bit unlucky. Sometimes there are phases where things don’t really go right. (A) good shot. , going into the hands of the fielder. That’s why you don’t do that.’ Not really having to think about it. I always felt like I was in good shape, starting really well, good headspace, so I wasn’t really worried.
“And captaining while batting is a completely different approach. Even when I was playing my first game, or scored the first half-century for CSK, I think (that) was a similar situation, we Chasing 140 and I always wanted to stay till the end and make sure I finish the innings almost the same way. Whether I’m the captain or not, nothing really changes.”
Gaikwad’s Dhoni flashback
The noise that welcomed Dhoni’s arrival for his first innings at Chepauk this IPL was incredible. The sound was so loud that Andre Russell, who was fielding on the boundary, had to cover his ears.
Alagappan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
