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Du Plessis Backs Gaikwad: IPL Hardships Will Forge a Better Captain

Faf du Plessis has voiced strong support for Ruturaj Gaikwad after Chennai Super Kings suffered their third consecutive defeat. The former South Africa captain acknowledged the immense pressure Gaikwad faces, both from his own form and the high expectations of CSK fans. Du Plessis believes every successful captain must endure such difficult phases to develop resilience and leadership skills. He highlighted that Gaikwad has a solid support system, including MS Dhoni, to help him navigate this challenging period.

Key Points: Faf du Plessis on Ruturaj Gaikwad's Captaincy Challenges

  • CSK's third straight IPL loss
  • Gaikwad's 7 consecutive defeats as captain
  • Du Plessis emphasizes pressure of expectation
  • Support from MS Dhoni cited
  • Hardships seen as crucial for growth
2 min read

Gaikwad will become a better leader by going through these hardships: Du Plessis

Faf du Plessis says CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad's tough start, including 7 straight losses, will ultimately make him a stronger leader and player.

"This will make him stronger as a captain. He will become a better player and leader by going through these hardships. - Faf du Plessis"

New Delhi, April 6

After Chennai Super Kings slumped to their third consecutive loss in the IPL 2026, former South Africa batter Faf du Plessis rallied behind skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad to become a better player and a leader after going through hardships.

Sunday's loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was Gaikwad's seventh consecutive loss as a CSK captain. He joined RCB star Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh in this unwanted list. While Kohli lost across the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons as the RCB captain, Yuvraj lost in 2013 with the (now defunct) Pune Warriors India.

"It is not easy as a young captain to suffer back-to-back defeats. Not performing yourself makes things even more difficult as a player. What he will experience right now is the weight of pressure. Expectation when you put on a yellow shirt comes at a cost. The fans expect good performances.

"They expect the team to be in the semi-finals and finals and to win trophies. So, for him, it is just a case of dealing with that early in his captaincy career. Every good captain has to go through this in their career," Du Plessis said on JioStar.

"They have to get stronger. They have to get a thick skin. You have to understand that this could potentially make him a better leader. He has a good head on his shoulders. He has a great support staff around him. He has a great leader in MS Dhoni, who will soon come back into the fold. So, all the things are there to help him. This will make him stronger as a captain. He will become a better player and leader by going through these hardships," he added.

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side will next take on Delhi Capitals on April 11 in Chennai.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
It's heartbreaking to see CSK lose like this, but we are the Yellow Army! We stand by our captain. Thala Dhoni trusted him for a reason. This is just a rough patch, not the end of the story. #WhistlePodu
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Rohit P
With all due respect to Faf, I feel the problem isn't just Ruturaj's captaincy. The team's middle order is collapsing like a house of cards. The support staff needs to fix the batting lineup, not just give motivational speeches.
S
Sarah B
Interesting perspective from Faf. In sports psychology, we often see that overcoming adversity builds resilience. Gaikwad has the technical skill; now he's developing the mental fortitude required for leadership. The process is painful but necessary.
V
Vikram M
Being compared to Kohli and Yuvi in *this* context is not a record anyone wants! But it shows even the legends went through this. Hope he turns it around soon. The Chepauk crowd will be behind him.
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Karthik V
True test of character. It's easy to lead a winning side. The real captain is made when the team is down. Let's see what Ruturaj is made of. Next match at home is crucial! 🏏

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