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Jaffer Urges Gaikwad to Fire Early and Ditch Big-Score Trap

Wasim Jaffer reckons CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad should swing harder right from the off. No more hunting those fat hundreds. Instead, pile on the risks early. His IPL 2026 strike rate? Just 103.70. And the returns—6, 28, 7, 15—haven't exactly set pulses racing. Aaron Finch agrees. Time to switch that mindset. Dominate quick.

CSK finally notched a win against DC. Their first one. Gaikwad copped a slow over-rate fine anyway. Even with Samson's century in the mix.

The TakeCricHubb Desk

Ruturaj Gaikwad's playing it safe up top. And it's biting Chennai Super Kings in the powerplay. Sure, he's notched 336 runs at 58.66 this IPL season. But that strike rate? A measly 141.83. Compare it to Travis Head's 213.62 or Jake Fraser-McGurk's 234.78. CSK's managed just 48.33 per powerplay over nine matches. Bottom of the pile. You wonder what a dash more aggression might do. Back in 2021, he hammered 635 runs at 160.25. Orange Cap territory right there. Even last season, despite a dodgy wrist, he posted 590 at 163.88. Now? He's got 17 boundaries from dot balls in the first six overs. That's the highest among openers with 100-plus runs. Too many singles. Too much nudging around. Faf du Plessis exploded for 388 powerplay runs at 192.08 in 2022. Yashasvi Jaiswal's sitting on 251 at 169.12 this year. Gaikwad could join that club. Especially with the Orange Cap dangling—only 13 runs off Virat Kohli's lead. Powerplay pinch-hitters haven't lit it up for CSK either. Rachin Ravindra: 59 off 37. Devon Conway: 54 off 37. Same old story. Bottom line. Gaikwad needs to swing freer early. CSK's top order would breathe easier. And that Orange Cap? Suddenly within reach.

Filed under Ruturaj GaikwadRuturaj GaikwadWasim JafferAaron Finch

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DevelopingApr 12, 2026 · CricHubb Desk