CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad says playing on spin-friendly pitches benefits their team, sticking to their Chepauk strategy where spinners do well. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s comments highlight CSK’s dedication to their traditional game plan, showing they won’t change it.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the free-flowing right-handed opener, has emerged as a cornerstone batsman for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since joining them in 2020. His elegant strokeplay and consistent run-scoring have made him a vital cog in the CSK batting line-up. Gaikwad’s rise to prominence came in the 2021 IPL season. He amassed a staggering 635 runs, the highest in the tournament, and was rightfully awarded the Orange Cap.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s phenomenal batting played a pivotal role in guiding CSK to their fourth IPL title. This wasn’t a one-off performance. Gaikwad continued his dominant form in IPL 2023, scoring another near-600 run season. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure were instrumental in CSK’s fifth championship win. Gaikwad is the second leading run-scorer in IPL 2024. He has amassed an impressive 583 runs in 13 matches, boasting a healthy average of 58.30 and a strike rate of 141.50. This includes one century and four half-centuries.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clinched a 5-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, moving closer to securing a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Playoffs. Despite needing another win in their last away game to secure the playoff spot with 16 points and a strong net run rate, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad described the win at home as a ‘wonderful feeling’ to end the league matches on a high note.
On May 12, 2024, at the iconic M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK managed a crucial victory against the Rajasthan Royals. Electing to field first, their bowling attack, led by the fiery Simarjeet Singh who scalped 3 wickets for just 26 runs, restricted RR to a manageable total of 141. Chasing a modest target, CSK’s batting line-up faced some challenges, but their newly appointed captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, provided much-needed stability with an unbeaten knock of 42 runs off 41 balls. Eventually, CSK chased down the target with 5 wickets and 9 balls to spare, securing a vital win.
What The Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad Said
The young captain said at the post-match presentation ceremony,
“Definitely we would love to play on such wickets. It brings our spinners into play and with huge boundaries, there is an amount of risk to hit sixes,”
Slowing down the pace of deliveries consistently causes difficulties, leading to the Royals’ struggles in scoring and resulting in a below-par total of 141 for five in 20 overs.
“That is always the plan whenever you come here. Sometimes, the wicket is flatter and we go to the yorkers. When the wicket is slow and you have a bigger side, you want to take the pace off,” he further explained.
Gaikwad anchored the innings, remaining unbeaten with a score of 42 from 41 deliveries, fulfilling the crucial requirement of the moment.
While explaining his role Gaikwad said, “As a team, we have stroke players so my job was to stay there till the end.”
He acknowledged that their strong Powerplay performance made things easier, even though they encountered a few setbacks during the middle overs.
He concluded by adding, “When we were 55-1, I felt we were cruising. One or two wickets can allow the opposition to get back. Generally, I thought we were cruising and there was no pressure until the end.”