IPL 2026: CSK Fans Crossed Line With Ruturaj Gaikwad Abuse, Ashwin Delivered Brutal Dhoni Verdict

CSK’s IPL 2026 journey has officially ended. The team faced a big defeat against CSK. Now they are out of the play-off race. Things never really clicked for them. The team looked inconsistent throughout the campaign.

Now, after the elimination, attention shifted to the skipper. Fans started criticising him. Ashwin also reacted to the situation. He defended the player. Along with that, he gave a blunt reality check. This was regarding MS Dhoni and the modern-day game

Ashwin Defends Ruturaj

CSK was knocked out after a defeat. Since then, fans have been criticising CSK’s skipper. While many fans questioned his captaincy and batting, some comments became personal. That is where Ashwin stepped in and spoke strongly on the matter.

The former CSK spinner said fans should understand that every player goes through difficult phases. According to him, abusing players makes no sense because form changes with time.

Ashwin Says Form Changes for Everyone

Ashwin explained that cricket is unpredictable. He thinks players know how to come back. He used the example of Ishan Kishan. He said many players fail despite huge expectations, but later return stronger. According to him, that does not mean they suddenly become bad cricketers.

Ashwin clearly felt that the criticism of Gaikwad became too extreme. He also reminded fans that Ruturaj is still a quality batter who has already delivered for CSK in previous seasons

Ashwin’s Reality Check on Dhoni Expectations

Ashwin also made another important point regarding MS Dhoni’s legacy. He said CSK fans became habituated to constant success. For years, the team reached the playoffs regularly. They kept winning trophies. That created very high expectations.

But now IPL has changed. Now there are:

Stronger teams
better squads
tougher competition

According to Ashwin, fans must understand that every season cannot end with CSK dominating the table. He explained that modern IPL is far more competitive than before.

CSK Still Have Promis, Says Ashwin

Ashwin believes CSK still has potential. He admitted the team was not the strongest. However, he pointed out that there are good players. According to him, CSK only needs better execution and consistency. He says that to rebuild, it will take time.

🚨 Ashwin - Don't abuse Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube is a good player, and Ruturaj is also a good player. I will maintain that, Ruturaj Gaikwad is a good player. Sometimes people abuse him so much, and I don’t know the reason because he is not that kind of player.… pic.twitter.com/JIR8YAZIiM
— Indian Cricket Ministry (@ICM_News45) May 21, 2026

"Sometimes, people abuse so much; I don't know the reason. Ruturaj Gaikwad is not that kind of player. It can happen to anyone. Time can change for anyone," @ashwinravi99 said.#IPL2026 #GTvCSK https://t.co/WwR2ifAiFq
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) May 22, 2026

Fans' Criticism of Gaikwad

Criticism in cricket is normal. Especially when a big franchise like Chennai underperforms. But many reactions toward Ruturaj became excessive.

Some supporters blamed him entirely for the poor campaign. Others questioned his captaincy skills after only one season in charge.

There are several reasons why fans became angry:

The team failed to qualify for the playoffs
Batting performances remained inconsistent
Strike rate discussions increased online
Comparisons with Dhoni became constant
Leadership pressure looked visible on the field

The biggest issue was the comparison factor. The debate continues heavily across social media platforms.

As the tournament progresses, teams will be looking to build momentum and strengthen their chances of lifting the trophy. In fact, if you’re wondering which side has the best shot at going all the way this season, check out our detailed analysis on why Royal Challengers Bengaluru could successfully defend their IPL title. It gives deeper insights into their squad strength, key players, and winning strategy for IPL 2026.

Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru can defend their IPL title?

Conclusion

CSK is now out of the IPL playoff race. Fans are criticising the skipper. Gaikwad is on their radar. In this situation, Ashwin came to stand by him. He said Gaikwad is a good player. He also believes that the team has quality players. Give them time to shine.

Ruturaj certainly had a difficult season. His numbers stayed below expectations, and Chennai struggled badly as a team. But rebuilding phases happen even to the biggest franchises. The coming season will now become very important for both CSK and their skipper. Complete your Khelstake login today and explore more cricket news.

FAQs

Why were fans criticizing Ruturaj?

Ans: He failed to perform well as a batter. Also, as captain, he could not lead effectively.

What did Ashwin say?

Ans: Ashwin defended Gaikwad. He said abusing players makes no sense. A cricketer goes through bad phases.

How did Gaikwad perform?

Ans: He scored 337 runs. Also, the strike rate was so low.

How did CSK perform?

Ans: The team did not perform well. They won only 6 matches. Due to this, they got eliminated.

What did Ashwin say about the Dhoni era?

Ans: Ashwin said fans became used to constant success under Dhoni. But modern IPL is now much more competitive.

What is the Khelstake official platform?

Ans: The Khelstake official platform is a cricket engagement platform. Here, users can follow matches and related activities.