Netizens roast Gaikwad for slow knock vs PBKS

• CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad faced online criticism for a slow innings vs Punjab Kings.
• Fans roasted Gaikwad, noting a strike rate of 127.27 & highlighting Ayush Mhatre's pace.
• CSK were batting at 156/4 by the end of the 16th over, seeking a win after a prior loss.

Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad became subject to trolls for his slow knock against the Punjab Kings. The five-time champions welcomed their Punjabi for their home opener on Friday, April 3,

in the seventh game of the IPL 2026. Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Rajasthan Royals in their season opener, the Yellow Army was aiming to open their win account in front of home fans.

The fans on twitter criticized Gaikwad for playing a slower innings, when the youngster Ayush Mhatre was already showing how to play a T20 game. Shivam Dube came in at the fourth position to support Mhatre who had now got out to a ball by Vyshak and the ball was caught by Yuzvendra Chahal. Ayush Mhatre who already got two lifelines in the form of catch drops has now ran out of luck and was caught at the backward point through the short third gap.

Fans roast CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for his slow knock against PBKS

Gaikwad, who opened with Sanju Samson, could manage to post only 28 runs off 22 deliveries. Due to his slow pace and momentum, Gaikwad was brutally roasted by netizens on the internet.

Ruturaj Gaikwad today was on a mission to make a 40 ball 50

— Batman𓃵 (@224Chepauk) April 3, 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad didn't let us feel the absence of Dhoni, by scoring 28 runs in 22 balls with a strike rate of 127.27#CSKvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/1XnwLshn8L

— कुंभकरण (@_kumbhkaran) April 3, 2026

RUTURAJ GAIKWAD POOR FORM CONTINUES #CSKvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/xVuxJBlxGm

— ℝ𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕀ℙ𝕃 𝔽𝕒𝕟  (@RetiredIPLFan) April 3, 2026

Ruturaj Gaikwad opened like the Test Match, hiding behind a teenager 😭 Bro brought "senior player experience" just to let kids do all the damage. 🤪 pic.twitter.com/t1vMha3xEC

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) April 3, 2026

As of writing, CSK were batting at 156 at the loss of four wickets by the end of the 16th over.