Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad could face a big test in IPL 2027 after the franchise finished eighth in the points table last season.
With former India pacer Zaheer Khan taking charge as the new head coach, questions have started coming up about Gaikwad’s future as captain.
Former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes the upcoming season could be crucial for Gaikwad. He feels the franchise will give him another opportunity but could review his captaincy after IPL 2027 if things do not go well.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Badrinath said CSK would want to see how Gaikwad works with Zaheer Khan. He also pointed out that Gaikwad has not had much say in player selection over the past year.
Badrinath believes the team management will look at the relationship between the captain and the new coach before making any decision about the leadership.
Gaikwad also needs to improve his batting after an inconsistent IPL 2026 season. He scored 337 runs in 14 matches at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44.
Badrinath also named Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson among the senior players who need to perform consistently in IPL 2027. He believes senior players cannot afford to perform in only one out of four matches.
The upcoming season will therefore be important for Gaikwad and other senior players as CSK look to return to the playoffs. With Zaheer Khan starting a new chapter at the franchise, Gaikwad will have another opportunity to prove himself as captain.
