'Sometimes people abuse so much': R Ashwin defends CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad amid criticism
Ravichandran Ashwin has defended Ruturaj Gaikwad amid criticism following Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2026 playoff exit. He urged fans to refrain from abusive comments, emphasizing that poor performance can happen to any player. Ashwin highlighted the increased competitiveness of the IPL and the challenges faced by Gaikwad in leading a young team without MS Dhoni.
- ▪Chennai Super Kings were eliminated from IPL 2026 after a defeat against Gujarat Titans.
- ▪Ruturaj Gaikwad faced criticism for his performance as captain during a challenging season.
- ▪Ravichandran Ashwin called for fans to stop abusing players, noting that form can fluctuate.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yahoo Sports.