Here is why Ruturaj Gaikwad Isn’t Playing Today’s IPL 2025 Match 25 Against KKR

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a major setback ahead of their high-profile clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 11, 2025. Their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to a hairline fracture in his left elbow.

Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad not playing today?

The 28-year-old opener suffered the injury during CSK’s third game of the season against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. A rising delivery struck him on the left elbow, causing immediate discomfort. Although the team physio attended to him on the field and he continued batting, the damage was more serious than initially suspected.

Gaikwad played the next two matches — against Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings — with his elbow heavily strapped. However, his performances dipped, with scores of 5 and 1 respectively, raising concerns about his fitness. Despite his willingness to continue contributing to the team, medical tests confirmed the severity of the injury.

Official confirmation from Stephen Fleming

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed the news ahead of the CSK vs KKR encounter, stating that Ruturaj had been experiencing considerable pain and was undergoing tests to determine the extent of the injury.

“He [Gaikwad] got hit in Guwahati. He’s been operating with an amount of pain. We got an X-ray, which was inconclusive, and we had an MRI, which revealed a fracture in his elbow, in the radial neck,” Fleming told reporters.
“So we’re disappointed and feel for him. We appreciate the efforts that he’s gone to in terms of trying to play, but unfortunately, he’ll be out of the tournament from now.”

MS Dhoni to lead CSK once again

With Ruturaj ruled out, CSK have handed over the captaincy reins to the legendary MS Dhoni for the remainder of the season. This marks the third time Dhoni has resumed leadership duties after stepping away — first in 2022 when Ravindra Jadeja relinquished the role mid-season, and now again in 2025.

At 43, Dhoni’s leadership and experience remain invaluable to the franchise, especially during a critical phase of the league.

Gaikwad’s contribution before injury

Despite his limited appearances, Gaikwad was CSK’s second-highest run-scorer this season. In five innings, he scored 122 runs, including two half-centuries. Only New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra has more runs for CSK in IPL 2025 so far, with 145 runs from five matches.

His absence leaves a significant void at the top order and as a tactical leader. Maharashtra batter Rahul Tripathi has been promoted to bat at No. 3, while CSK have handed a debut to Anshul Kamboj in the playing XI against KKR.

KKR vs CSK Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Playing XI:

• Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper)
• Sunil Narine
• Ajinkya Rahane (captain)
• Venkatesh Iyer
• Rinku Singh
• Moeen Ali
• Andre Russell
• Ramandeep Singh
• Harshit Rana
• Vaibhav Arora
• Varun Chakaravarthy

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Playing XI:

• Rachin Ravindra
• Devon Conway
• Rahul Tripathi
• Vijay Shankar
• Shivam Dube
• MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper/captain)
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Ravichandran Ashwin
• Noor Ahmad
• Anshul Kamboj
• Khaleel Ahmed

What lies ahead for CSK?

With Dhoni back at the helm, the team will hope to stay in the playoff hunt. CSK’s next few fixtures are crucial in determining their fate in IPL 2025, and the leadership change could either spark a resurgence or expose gaps in the lineup. Fans will be watching closely as “Thala” returns to command the Yellow Army once more.

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