Head Coach Stephen Fleming announced on Thursday (April 10), one day before the team’s home match against Kolkata Knight Riders, that Gaikwad has been ruled out of the tournament due to an elbow fracture.
The 28-year-old Gaikwad injured his elbow while batting against Tushar Deshpande in CSK’s match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30.
Although he participated in the following two games against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, scans have now shown that he has sustained a fracture.
This injury presents a significant blow to the five-time champions, who have struggled, winning only one of their first five matches and currently sitting at ninth place in the standings.
With Gaikwad sidelined, CSK loses a vital player from an already struggling top order, especially since he has been the team’s leading run-scorer in three of the last four seasons.
Gaikwad Injury Dhoni Captain
Gaikwad’s injury means that the 43-year-old Dhoni will return to the captaincy, a role he has occupied for the majority of the franchise’s storied history.
He had briefly passed the leadership to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022 but resumed his role midway through a challenging season.
Dhoni had once again stepped down before the 2024 season, but now he finds himself back in charge, tasked with rejuvenating CSK’s struggling 2025 campaign.