“I don’t want to be a certain type of character,” Gaekwad said. “Things like to flow as they flow. Basically continue the culture of CSK. That’s what I think. The success we’ve had, the things we’ve been doing, I wouldn’t change it one bit. I just want to come there, take my own decisions and give maximum freedom because nothing has changed since I joined CSK and I am enjoying myself. “

Gaikwad was bought by CSK for IPL 2019. He didn’t play a game this season and had a slow start in 2020, but the team stuck with him and the two have reaped the rewards since. He has worn the orange cap and his performances have helped him win two titles. The support he has felt over the years is what he now wants to offer to others.

How did Gaekwad know that he will be the captain of CSK?

Gaikwad was informed about the added responsibility that would be in the middle of a training session with Dhoni this season.

“To be honest, not a really deep conversation, I think it was pretty cool. Just a conversation I’d say. We were just rehearsing and he came over and told me all about it. Obviously every For somebody, other people on the outside, they’ll think they’re big shoes to fill but I think I’ll always be myself and I’d like to continue the culture that’s going on.

“I remember in 2022 when he said to me, maybe not next year, but after that you might get a chance to lead, so be ready for that. So obviously after that I’ll always be his. ready for. It was nothing new to me. Or a surprise or shock. I know how the game goes, what to do, like I did last year. Fleming and I after every game. I used to talk about the captaincy, about how I feel, what are the changes, what are the bowling changes that I felt, what we need to do, this or that one-on-one in every match. There was one conversation to really help.”

Did captaincy affect Gaikwad’s batting?

Gaikwad has scored 155 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 117.42. He has to work with a new opening partner this year, an IPL rookie in Rachan Ravindra. Did any of these changes force him to bat differently?

“There are some things that outsiders don’t really know about,” Gaekwad said. “Last year, (the) three, four games we started were in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai and then Chennai. All those games were on flat wickets. So I think the pitch is really important.

“Sometimes there are phases where you get good balls. Sometimes there are phases where you are a bit unlucky. Sometimes there are phases where things don’t really fall into place, (a) good shot, fielder. Go into the hand. So you don’t. I don’t have to think about it, I always felt like I was in good shape, starting really well, so I wasn’t really worried.

“And captaincy, while batting, is a completely different approach. Even when I was playing my first match, or I scored my first fifty for CSK, I think (it was a) similar situation, We were chasing 140 and I always wanted to stay till the end and make sure that nothing changes whether I am captain or not.”

Gaekwad’s Dhoni flashback

The noise that greeted Dhoni’s first innings in this IPL at Chepauk was incredible. It was so loud that the fielder on the boundary, Andre Russell, had to cover his ears.