Ayush Mhatre will hope to act on M.S. Dhoni’s batting advice for the rest of the season.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
Filling the void left by proven match-winners and established names is like replacing the irreplaceable. But none can escape the constant of change.
Chennai Super Kings, an IPL franchise which was once labelled the ‘Dad’s Army’ for recruiting many veterans, has been injecting young blood into the squad in recent times as it hopes to bring back the glory days.
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, admitted that it is no child’s play to start clicking straightaway with a bunch of youth.
“Till the end of the last cycle, we had the best experienced players who were available.
“But looking at this team, it is a very young one. The excitement is obviously there, but there is a lot of difference between experienced and inexperienced players,” said Ruturaj ahead of the clash against Punjab Kings, scheduled on Friday (April 3, 2026).
“We have to allow them (youngsters) to make mistakes. We have to make sure that they are in a good headspace. We just have to stay positive and hope for the best. Even if it does not happen, we must know that it is a long process. It will definitely happen one day.”
Ruturaj called for patience despite having the understanding that an indifferent start could prove detrimental to the team’s playoff chances.
“There is a lot of pressure to get into that high level of performance. They are learning slowly. Sometimes, it takes time. The more games they play, the better they will get,” he added.
CSK is slow, but is it steady enough to win the IPL 2026 race?
Published – April 03, 2026 12:24 am IST
