Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has revealed the team’s captain MS Dhoni taught him to stay neutral when things weren’t going his way. Gaikwad scored an unbeaten knock of 220 runs off just 159 balls in the quarterfinal clash of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy against Uttar Pradesh.
The right-hander scored 10 fours and 16 sixes, out of which seven came in the penultimate over of the innings as Gaikwad registered his name in the record books.
Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad had struggled to get going for CSK in the first phase of IPL 2021. However, the right-hander was backed by the team’s management in the second half and he went on to bag the Orange Cap after scoring 635 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26. Thus, he played a key role in the success of the team as they were able to go all the way.
Ruturaj Gaikwad said while talking to former Indian opener Aakash Chopra, “All the (CSK) players gelled really well. Everyone used to be a little quiet for 10-15 mins after losing a game. But Mahi bhai…after coming back from the presentation, would tell us, ‘Relax boys, it happens’,” Gaikwad, who plays for Dhoni-led CSK in IPL said.
He added, “You tend to relax a little bit after hearing that. MS Dhoni taught me how to stay neutral when things aren’t going your way. And even when you are on the winning side, it is important to stay neutral.”
Gaikwad revealed that MS Dhoni always maintained a good team environment irrespective of the results of the match.
“Win or lose, MS Dhoni made sure that the team atmosphere remained the same. Yes, there was surely a lot of disappointment, but no negativity. There was no blame game. A lot of times when you keep on losing, different groups are formed within the team. But that didn’t happen in CSK,” Gaikwad said.
The Maharashtra batter added Dhoni keeps things simple and short even if the team losses, which creates a great dressing room atmosphere.
“MS Dhoni’s meetings are usually very short. Even after losing, the longest meeting would be around two or three minutes. He would tell us that there is a dinner plan, so make sure everyone is ready for it. He would make us understand that it isn’t possible for CSK to win each and every time,” he said.
Gaikwad will lead Maharashtra in the second semifinal of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Assam on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.
