‘Too many suggestions also create confusion’ – Ruturaj Gaikwad talks about MS Dhoni’s advice after top-show in 2nd IRE vs IND T20I

The Indian cricket team’s newly appointed interim vice-captain for the T20 format, Ruturaj Gaikwad has made headlines for smashing a brilliant half-century against Ireland in the second T20I. Ruturaj Gaikwad recently got in a conversation after the match about his knock and learning valuable leadership skills from Mahendra Singh Dhoni. 

Being a crucial part of the Indian Premier League team franchise, Chennai Super Kings, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been under the valuable supervision and leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a few years now and has taken valuable tips like presence of mind in the game, and not being affected by outside noise on social media.  While talking about his knock, Ruturaj Gaikwad talked about how he always goes back to his knock after the game to analyse what better he could have done to improvise in the next matches. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad commented on MS Dhoni’s leadership style

“I think leadership role is a very complicated thing, to be honest. What Mahi bhai always says is to take it one game at a time. Just be in the present moment, don’t worry about the future. Everyone creates hype, whatever it is. I am not the kind of person who really watches social media and hears things about what anyone is saying about me”, said Ruturaj Gaikwad. “I think this is one of the traits that I have learned at CSK. I am pretty much clear about giving my best in the field, coming back home, and chilling with my friends.” 

“Leadership for me is to give maximum confidence to the ten players, who are playing. Make sure that I step into their shoes and think about what they are thinking and what they are going through. Sometimes the batters and bowlers have their own plans, they are really thinking about the game from their perspective. So, I feel it is important to back them in that moment,” added Ruturaj Gaikwad. “After the game, there is always an opportunity of what we could have improved. For me, in the game particularly, it is more about giving freedom to the players. Make sure they back themselves first. Too many suggestions also create confusion; this is what I believe,” concluded Ruturaj Gaikwad.