CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad did not open the batting against MI in their IPL 2025 opener today (March 23).
After winning the toss and choosing to field first, Gaikwad saw his bowlers get the job done in the first innings, as they restricted their rivals to 155-9 in Chennai. Noor Ahmad was the star with the ball, taking 4-18 in his first appearance for the franchise – ripping out the middle-order with the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Robin Minz and Naman Dhir.
Match 3, Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
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Batter Rahul Tripathi came in as the Impact Player at the end of the first innings, replacing Khaleel Ahmed. It was expected that he would bat at No.3 with Gaikwad opening the batting alongside Rachin Ravindra. However, it was Tripathi who walked out to start the innings, with Ravindra.
Hussey: Gaikwad can come in early, or through the middle
Gaikwad then came to the crease at the fall of Tripathi's wicket in the second over.
"It's something we've discussed quite a lot," said CSK batting coach Michael Hussey, when asked by Shane Watson on the broadcast about the move early on in CSK's chase. "But hopefully Tripathi's someone that can make a big impact for us in the Powerplay. He's naturally a really aggressive player.
"Ruturaj, we know how much class he's got – he can either come in if we do lose an early wicket, like we have tonight, or he can come in through the middle and control the innings. He plays spin so well as well, so I guess that's the main thinking behind it."
Read more: Explained: Why Matheesha Pathirana is not playing CSK's first match vs Mumbai Indians
Before today, Gaikwad had batted 65 times in the IPL, opening the innings on 60 occasions. It was from the top of the order that he was at the forefront of CSK's charge to the IPL title in 2021, with a 635-run season that earned him the Orange Cap.
He batted at No.5 and No.4 for CSK in IPL 2020, and did not move back down the order until last year, when he batted thrice at No.3, scoring 69, 17 and 0. Gaikwad batted twice at No.3 and once at No.4 on India's T20I tour of Zimbabwe last July, and has moved down the order in first-class and List A cricket this season as well.
He was eventually dismissed for 53 off 26 balls by the debutant Vignesh Puthur.
Ruturaj Gaikwad – Record by phase in IPL cricket
| Overs | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| 1-6 | 1128 | 47.0 | 126.6 |
| 7-11 | 633 | 33.3 | 129.4 |
| 12-16 | 436 | 62.3 | 170.3 |
| 17-20 | 183 | 26.1 | 177.7 |
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