Ruturaj Gaikwad Ruled Out of IPL 2025 Due to an Elbow Fracture

MS Dhoni is back at the helm for Chennai Super Kings, stepping in as captain once again after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025 with a fractured elbow. The news was confirmed by CSK head coach Stephen Fleming, who addressed the media in Chennai a day before their upcoming clash against Kolkata Knight Riders.

“Ruturaj Gaikwad is out of the IPL due to a fracture on his elbow,” Fleming said. “We’ve got an uncapped player, MS Dhoni, who’ll take over the captaincy for the rest of the season.” The coach also acknowledged the effort Gaikwad had made to try and stay on the field, adding, “We’re disappointed for him. He’s tried his best to recover, but unfortunately, he won’t be able to continue.” 

Gaikwad sustained the injury after taking a hit on his elbow from a Tushar Deshpande short ball during CSK’s match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30. Interestingly, despite the injury, Gaikwad featured in CSK’s next two games – against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings – and showed no visible signs of discomfort while batting or fielding. That only added to the confusion around his status, especially as rumors began to circulate about Dhoni possibly taking over the captaincy. 

In five games this season, Gaikwad was one of the few positives for CSK. Batting at No. 3, he notched up two half-centuries and looked solid with the bat. But his exit now leaves a massive void in the CSK setup at a time when the team is already under pressure. With just one win in five games, CSK sit second-last in the table and are in desperate need of a turnaround. And now, that responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Dhoni – a man who’s no stranger to pressure. The 43-year-old had stepped away from the captaincy at the start of the 2024 season, handing the reins to Gaikwad, though he remained a vital figure behind the scenes. Dhoni’s leadership, however, might just be the jolt CSK needs. After all, he’s led the franchise to five IPL titles and has a track record of turning tough situations into triumphs. 

This isn’t the first time Dhoni has found himself stepping back in mid-season. In 2022, after Ravindra Jadeja’s brief captaincy stint came to an abrupt end, Dhoni resumed duties, and although that season didn’t end in playoff success, it paved the way for their 2023 title run. With Dhoni now back in charge, the spotlight will once again shine brightly on CSK. Can the veteran wicketkeeper lead another revival? If history’s anything to go by, don’t count him out just yet. 

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