Not Hardik Pandya! Ruturaj Gaikwad Picks CSK Teammate As His Favourite All-Rounder

Ruturaj Gaikwad is captain of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 28-year-old right-handed batter from Maharashtra succeeded Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain of the Chennai-based franchise ahead of the start of IPL 2024 and has captained them in 19 matches so far. Under Gaikwad’s leadership, CSK finished 5th in the IPL 2024 points table, and due to injury, the right-handed batter was only able to play five matches in IPL 2025.

Gaikwad, who is one of the best CSK batters of all time, in a recent CSK event, the clip of which was shared by the franchise on X, was asked to pick his favourite all-rounder. And he ignored Hardik Pandya and instead mentioned his CSK teammate’s name.

According to Gaikwad, who will lead CSK in IPL

2026, Shivam Dube is his favourite all-rounder.

From now on, can we call him ‘Rapid Raj’? 😉
The answers were rapid! ⚡🥳#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/9mzR5QI2vq

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) January 20, 2026

Dube has been associated with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL since 2022, and in 55 matches played so far, he has amassed a total of 1460 runs. The Mumbai-based cricketer, who was a member of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup in 2024, was retained by the Chennai-based franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auctions.

Dube, who was included in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad on December 20, 2025, has also played 50 T20I matches for India so far and scored 639 runs in addition to taking 23 wickets.

In the video, Gaikwad was also asked to name the toughest bowler he has ever faced, and he mentioned Trent Boult’s name, and when quizzed about his cricket idol, Ruturaj said, “MS Dhoni.”

Dhoni, who is arguably the greatest wicketkeeper-batter of all time, has been associated with the IPL since the start of the league and holds the record for playing the most matches in the world’s richest franchise cricket league. Dhoni is CSK’s most capped player, the highest run getter in the IPL and the most successful captain.

Under Dhoni’s leadership, CSK won five IPL titles in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023 and finished as runners-up in 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019.

Dhoni was retained for Rs 4 crore by the Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, and the 44-year-old cricketer from Ranchi will feature in the 2026 edition of the IPL as well.