Ruturaj Gaikwad expressed frustration over his persistent bad luck with coin tosses following CSK’s loss to PBKS, admitting it’s starting to weigh on him. The defeat marked the ninth time out of ten matches this season that Gaikwad ended up on the losing side of the toss. This unfortunate streak has coincided with his new role as captain, taking over from the legendary MS Dhoni at the start of IPL 2024.
In the recent match against Punjab Kings, Sam Curran, PBKS skipper, won the toss and elected to field, a decision that proved decisive as PBKS secured victory by seven wickets. Despite CSK posting a respectable total of 162/7, PBKS chased it down comfortably with contributions from Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw.
Reflecting on the match, Gaikwad acknowledged that CSK fell short by 50-60 runs, attributing it partly to unfavorable batting conditions early on. He admitted to practicing tosses during training sessions but lamented his inability to turn the luck around during actual matches, confessing to feeling the pressure whenever he steps out for the toss.
Gaikwad highlighted the challenges CSK faced due to injuries and player absences, particularly the early departure of Chahal in the first over, which left the bowling attack short-handed against PBKS. Despite the setbacks, Gaikwad remains optimistic, emphasizing the team’s determination to bounce back in the remaining four matches of the season.
Despite the team’s mixed fortunes, Gaikwad’s individual performance with the bat has been exceptional, leading the IPL 2024 Orange Cap race with 509 runs in 10 matches, including a century and four half-centuries. Despite the loss, CSK holds onto fourth place in the points table, while PBKS moves up to seventh.
