New Delhi, April 6 – Following Chennai Super Kings' third consecutive loss in the 2026 IPL, former South African batsman Faf du Plessis rallied behind captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, urging him to become a better player and leader despite facing challenges.
Sunday's loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) marked Gaikwad's seventh consecutive defeat as CSK captain. He now shares this unwanted record with RCB star Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh. While Kohli suffered losses as RCB captain in both the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons, Yuvraj lost in 2013 with the (now defunct) Pune Warriors India.
"It's not easy for a young captain to suffer back-to-back defeats. Not performing yourself makes things even more difficult as a player. What he's experiencing now is the pressure. Expectations come at a cost when you wear the yellow jersey. The fans expect good performances," Du Plessis said on JioStar.
"He has to get stronger. He has to develop 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 be back. 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 challenges," he added.
The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side will next face Delhi Capitals on April 11 in Chennai.