Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has kicked off Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 in impressive fashion. He smashed 92 off 50 balls in the tournament opener against defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT). It was a knock that did not deserve to be on the losing side. The right-handed batter made another excellent effort against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), smashing 57 off 31 balls. This time, the effort came in a 12 run-triumph. In the wake of his wonderful performances, there have been some viewpoints that Gaikwad must take over from MS Dhoni as captain when the latter retires from IPL. Of course, England’s talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes is the front-runner to replace MSD as Chennai Super Kings captain. However, we analyze three reasons why Gaikwad would be better than Stokes as captain.
1. He has a good head on his shoulders
Gaikwad seems to have a very mature head on his shoulders. He began his IPL career in 2020 in disastrous fashion with a few low scores. He also battled COVID-19 and seemed to be going through a low. However, Gaikwad proved his mettle by cracking three half-centuries towards the end of the season to ensure CSK had something to cheer about in an otherwise disappointing season. Considering everything he would have gone through, it wouldn’t have been easy at all, but he raised his game commendably under pressure.
The 26-year-old had an outstanding season in IPL 2021. He won the Orange Cap for amassing 635 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26, with one hundred and four fifties. Thanks to Gaikwad’s efforts, CSK lifted the title in IPL 2021 season. Gaikwad hardly looked ruffled even when the chips were down, showing leadership qualities even though he did not have an official post.
2. Captaincy could see him flourish even more as a batter
Some players flourish with additional responsibility, while others succumb to pressure. Although it is too early to judge Gaikwad, he enjoys responsibility. Even without being given any specific leadership role, he has been one of the unofficial leaders in the team in the way he has batted and handled tricky situations. There is a decent chance that if Gaikwad CSK captain, his game as a player would improve even further.
3. He can be groomed for the future
When picking a captain, looking at the age factor is important since leadership is a big task and should be seen as a long-term responsibility. Gaikwad is now 26, and this is the right time to groom someone as a leader. If he does well, he could be the permanent captain of the CSK franchise for the next decade. Of course, Stokes is being seen as the next captain of Chennai. However, he is 31 and will turn 32 in June this month. As such, he cannot be considered a long-term choice. Also, Stokes has had issues with mental health and has even quit ODIs. That is another aspect that should be considered.
4. Gaikwad has some experience of leading Maharashtra
Although Stokes is a proven leader, the positive for Gaikwad is that he, too, has led Maharashtra with decent success in domestic cricket. Although at a different level of the sport, the batter has looked at ease while leading the team. He scored bucketful runs across formats in the domestic competition without looking under duress. CSK can consider this aspect as well while choosing its leader.
5. It’s always better to have an Indian captain in the IPL
Last but not least, having an Indian captain has advantages. Since only four overseas players are allowed in the IPL, it can often be dicey if the foreign captain is not performing. The same happened with KKR in IPL 2021 and SRH in IPL 2022 when Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson struggled. Most teams in IPL 2023 have learned their lessons and named Indian captains. Will CSK go the same way? Time will tell.