Ruturaj Gaikwad recorded one of the slowest fifties in Chennai Super Kings' history on April 26, 2026, reaching the milestone in 49 balls against Gujarat Titans.While this knock was uncharacteristic for
Gaikwad, it places him among a few other CSK players who have struggled to find rhythm on sluggish pitches.
Slowest 50s for CSK in IPL History
Historically, CSK's slowest half-centuries occurred during the league's earlier, more cautious years or on particularly difficult tracks like Chepauk.
Parthiv Patel (53 balls):
Patel reached his fifty against Punjab Kings at Chennai in 2010. On a very slow Chepauk surface, he focused on holding one end together, eventually finishing with 57 runs from 58 balls in a match that famously went to a Super Over.
Matthew Hayden (51 balls):
Hayden reached his fifty against Mumbai Indians at Gqeberha in 2009. Despite the slow start on a challenging South African pitch, the legendary opener shifted gears drastically after reaching the milestone, ending his innings with a powerful 89 off 58 deliveries.
Murali Vijay (50 balls):
Vijay reached his fifty against Punjab Kings at Mohali in 2013. During a modest chase of 139 runs, Vijay played a secondary role, remaining unbeaten on exactly 50 to ensure CSK crossed the finish line without any further hiccups.
Read More: Axar Patel Captaincy Record
Dwayne Smith (49 balls):
Smith reached his fifty against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede in 2014. Known for his aggressive "see-ball, hit-ball" approach, Smith had to curb his instincts against his former team to build a steady platform for the middle order.
Read More: Axar Patel Captaincy Record
Ruturaj Gaikwad (49 balls):
Gaikwad reached his fifty against Gujarat Titans at Chennai in 2026. The CSK captain anchored the innings through a difficult period where wickets fell regularly, before accelerating late in the game to finish with a score of 74 off 60 balls.
Despite the slow start, Gaikwad shifted gears immediately after reaching 50, finishing with 74 runs off 60 balls.Before this match, Gaikwad had been struggling in the 20
