Table of Contents
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) faced a significant setback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season when their captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, was ruled out due to an elbow injury. This development led to the reinstatement of MS Dhoni as the team’s captain. However, recent footage of Gaikwad playing football has surfaced, sparking debates and speculations among fans regarding the severity and timing of his injury.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury and its impact on CSK
Gaikwad sustained an elbow injury during a match against the Rajasthan Royals on March 30, 2025, when he was struck by a short ball from Jofra Archer. Despite the injury, Gaikwad continued to play in subsequent matches against the Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. However, medical examinations later revealed a hairline fracture in his elbow, leading to his withdrawal from the remainder of the IPL season. CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, expressed disappointment over the development, acknowledging Gaikwad’s efforts to play through the pain. In Gaikwad’s absence, the experienced Dhoni resumed captaincy duties for the team.
“So we’re disappointed and feel for him. We appreciate the efforts that he’s gone to in terms of trying to play, but, he will be out of the tournament,” Fleming said in a media release.
Gaikwad seen playing football
Amidst the news of his ౠinjury, a video emerged showing Gaikwad engaging in a football session during a CSK trainin🐼g. The footage depicted Gaikwad juggling a football and interacting with teammates, seemingly without discomfort. This video quickly went viral on social media platforms, leading to widespread speculation among fans and cricket enthusiasts.
Fan reactions and speculations
The video led to a flurry of reactions from fans, with many questioning the authenticity and severity of Gaikwad’s injury. Some fans speculated that the injury might have been exaggerated or misrepresented, while others suggested that the video could be from an earlier date, prior to the injury. Comments ranged from accusations of a “forceful” exclusion from the team to debates about the responsibilities and pressures faced by players in professional sports. It’s important to note that the exact date of the video remains unverified, adding to the ambiguity and fuelling further discussions.
Also READ: KL Rahul’s reജaction after DC’s win over RCB leaves wife Athiya Shetty swooning
Here’s how fans reacted:
And the oscar goes to…
Ruturaj Gaikwad😂😂😂
— Aatish Kapoor the oscar winner ♈(@AkashThapa2505)
Injured Ruturaj gaikwad playing football cu꧃rrentl൩y.
— Juylov Vladislav (@juylov_vlad)
Ruturaj Gaikwad:
Football ✔
Cricket ❌— Aman (@Amanriz78249871)
My Humble Request 🙃
If C﷽SK started winning from tomorrow, don’t drag Ruturaj Gaikwad 😩
— Prakash (@definitelynot05)
🥂Scenes as Thala MS Dhoni returns as CSK captain in IPL 2025. | ✤| • Ruturaj Gaikwad
— Rajabets 🇮🇳👑 (@rajabetsindia)
Latest video of Ruturaj Gaikwad playing football. Is he🐬 really injured or is Dhoni playing politics?
— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane)
Ruturaj Gaikwad injury
— Binod (@wittybinod)
Today CSK playing a m♈atch without Ruturaj Gaikwad after 1665 days 😞
— ITZ__MSD🐐 (@Ahamed_dhoni011)
Ruturaj Gaikwad could seriously bag an Oscar before Jake Gyllenhaal, not even for a biopic, just for acting or Hollywood might even cast him as Harvey Dent; man’s alre𝐆a♏dy two-faced.
— Blablabla (@Bhaukal_ba1)
Ruturaj Gaikwad playing football, & Stephen Fleming denying any plans to sign a replacement for him in IPL 2025, ꦗall of this clearly indicates that Gaikwad is completely fit, & the team might have just pulled off a fake injury drama to handover the charge to a power hungry…
— Jahazi (@Oye_Jahazi)