Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was at his absolute best as he scored a fine knock of 99 runs off just 57 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Sunday. The right-hander timed the ball to perfection but was a bit unlucky to miss out on a well-deserved hundred.
Gaikwad added 182 runs alliance for the opening stand with Devon Conway, which is the highest for CSK in the IPL history. Conway took a backseat in the long partnership as the youngster took the attack against the opposition bowlers, especially Umran Malik in the middle overs.
Gaikwad’s knock was laced with six fours and as many sixes as he batted at the top of his game against SRH to help his team post a par score of 202 runs on the board.
Furthermore, Gaikwad completed 1000 runs in the IPL during his special knock. He took 31 innings to reach the personal milestone and joined Sachin Tendulkar as the fastest batter to get to the landmark.
Gaikwad, who had won the Orange Cap in the previous season, hasn’t had the best of the ongoing season and this knock will certainly add a shot in his arm. In fact, Gaikwad plays for Maharashtra in the domestic circuit and he was able to make the most of his home ground.
Ruturaj was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine knock and he said in the post-match presentation, “Felt good and it has come in a winning way, this knock feels more special. There will be times where you will get one or two good deliveries and you will be unlucky here and there, with the kind of support staff you have and all the people around, you have that backing and confidence with you going. Personally, I do not like to believe in form, irrespective of what you scored in the last game you have to start from zero. I believe in starting from zero every game and that is what has helped. I like to play more pace as it brings the best out of me. Not many bowlers who bowl that fast and that short, so whenever they bowl short in the first few balls, obviously I have the upper hand in the last few balls. Lot of thought processes in it. I was telling him (Conway) to take his time. I have played here as this is my home ground, I know this wicket and I was just chatting with him to keep going.”
On the other hand, Mukesh Chaudhary returned with four wickets but his figures were spoiled by Nicholas Pooran in the last over when the game was already done and dusted.
Chaudhary said after the game, “A wicket hadn’t fallen yet, so I had to take my chances, I knew I dropped a catch but I had to take a wicket and thankfully that happened. (On Bravo’s absence) There was more responsibility in the powerplay without Bravo because he has so much experience, he keeps advising us. Yesterday, he told me I have to take more responsibility, the team environment is always very supportive. (On bowling the last over) MS Dhoni didn’t tell me anything special about that over, he just told me to bowl stump to stump and not try anything fancy.”
CSK will next take on RCB at the MCA, Pune on Wednesday.
