Why Ruturaj Gaikwad is Not Opening For CSK Against GT in Ahmedabad?

Chennai Super Kings made an unexpected change during their IPL 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad not opening the batting. Chasing a challenging target of 230 against one of the tournament’s strongest bowling attacks, CSK instead sent Sanju Samson and Australian batter Matthew Short to begin the innings.

Interestingly, Ruturaj Gaikwad batting position in IPL has been as an opener mostly, which is why the move surprised the fans. The CSK captain moved himself down to No. 3, a move that wasn't expected by anyone during the GT vs CSK IPL 2026 match.

Why Ruturaj Gaikwad Is Not Opening Today Against GT?

The main reason behind the decision is Matthew Short’s proven reputation as a natural T20 opener. The Australian batter has built his game around attacking the new ball aggressively, and CSK wanted to maximize that strength against Gujarat Titans. As a result, Ruturaj Gaikwad sacrificed his regular opening slot and shifted down the order to No. 3 to provide more stability in the middle overs.

Gaikwad has struggled to maintain a high strike rate during the powerplay in IPL 2026. The CSK skipper has often taken time to settle early in his innings, which has occasionally slowed down the scoring rate against quality pace attacks. With CSK chasing a huge target, the team management decided to maximise the powerplay restrictions.

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Disappointing IPL Season With the Bat

Ruturaj Gaikwad endured a difficult IPL 2026 season despite remaining one of the most important batters for Chennai Super Kings. In 14 matches, the CSK skipper scored 337 runs at an average of 28.08 and a strike rate of 123.44, with two half-centuries and a best score of 74*. His struggles in the powerplay hurt Chennai this season, with Gaikwad registering one of the lowest strike rates among top-order batters during the first six overs.

The pressure of leading one of the best teams in IPL has also become a major talking point around Gaikwad’s form, with several experts questioning his conservative batting approach in high-scoring games. However, despite the criticism, Gaikwad remains one of the best batsmen in IPL and continues to be central to CSK’s plans because of his ability to anchor innings under pressure.