IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin backs Ruturaj Gaikwad as CSK’s best batter

Former CSK cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has predicted who could be the best batter for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. He picked captain Ruturaj Gaikwad over Sanju Samson, despite the latter being in exceptional form recently.

Gaikwad scored 413 runs in seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at an impressive average of 82.60, including two centuries and a fifty. He will be aiming to carry that form into IPL 2026. Last season, he featured in only five matches before being ruled out due to injury, but this time he will look to play the full tournament and lead his team to the playoffs.

“Best batter – Ruturaj. I think he will bat at three. His role will be to play till the end. I feel he will look to anchor and the others will keep hitting around him. That is why I think he could get the volume of runs,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

Ashwin reckoned that Chennai Super Kings would certainly aim to remain competitive and could emerge as strong contenders for a playoff spot. He opined that at least two of their top three batters would need to score 500 runs each to strengthen their chances. He also added that the team must find ways to get the best out of their bowling attack, which may not appear to be the strongest on paper.

“CSK will compete very hard to be at three or four. I feel they are a part of three, four, five and six contenders. If their top three or two at least score 500 runs each, and they find bowlers to execute plans and get their top two firing, I definitely feel they will get through. The bowling might not look strong, but in the past, they have found bowlers to do the job. I feel they are in contention,” Ashwin said.

He stated that Chennai Super Kings could gain an advantage if they get off to a strong start, especially with several other teams dealing with injury concerns. High-profile players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, among others, are set to miss the initial matches of IPL 2026, dealing significant blows to their respective teams.

“If CSK start well, then before guys like Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood come, you will feel RCB and SRH are having to catch up. If they start slow, and you hit the ground running as CSK, then you are set for a very good finish,” said Ashwin.

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