Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has publicly defended his team's captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is struggling for runs in the ongoing 2026 Indian Premier League season. According to official IPL statistics, Gaikwad has managed only 63 runs across his first five innings of the tournament, with a highest score of 26.
"He's a class player, and we back his ability," Fleming was quoted as saying in a press conference ahead of CSK's match. The coach emphasized that Gaikwad's leadership and contribution to the team environment remain valuable, and that form is a temporary concern for any top-order batsman.
The defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, have had a mixed start to the 2026 season. While other batsmen have found consistency, the team's management is showing patience with their appointed captain, who took over the leadership role from the legendary MS Dhoni.
