In a recent match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 3, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) scored 209 runs, but former CSK batter Subramaniam Badrinath criticized captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for his cautious batting approach. Gaikwad scored 28 runs off 22 balls, which Badrinath deemed ineffective, especially as CSK had strong contributions from Ayush Mhatre, who made 73 runs off 43 balls. Badrinath argued that Gaikwad misread the pitch conditions, claiming it was not 'slow' as suggested. PBKS chased down the target in just 18.4 overs, raising questions about CSK's strategy and execution. Badrinath pointed out that Gaikwad's reluctance to play aggressively stemmed from a lack of confidence in the inexperienced middle order, which includes players like Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer. The absence of seasoned players like MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis due to injuries further complicated CSK's situation, leaving them in a dilemma regarding their batting strategy.