Ruturaj Gaikwad proved his worth with a brilliant knock in the opening match of IPL 2023 against Gujarat Titans played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31 March.
Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to field first. Gaikwad showed intent right from the word go putting pressure on GT’s new ball bowlers. Mohammed Shami bowled a stunning delivery to get rid of Devon Conway. Moeen Ali kept the pressure on GT bowlers keeping the momentum going for CSK along with Gaikwad.
Right before the first six overs ended, Rashid Khan dismissed Moeen Ali caught by Saha. Ali and Gaikwad added 36 runs for the 2nd wicket. At the end of the first six overs, CSK made 51 for 2.
Gaikwad looked in sublime touch making the batting look easy reaching fifty off 23 deliveries. Ben Stokes’s stay for CSK ended with Rashid Khan dismissing him to leave CSK in trouble. Gaikwad kept the momentum going hitting boundaries and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Joshua Little disturbed timber getting rid of Ambati Rayudu cheaply. Gaikwad and Rayudu added 51 runs for the 4th wicket.
After the second timeout, Shivam Dube struggled against disciplined Gujarat Titans bowling. Gaikwad was eventually dismissed for 92 off 50 deliveries with 4 fours and 9 sixes at a strike rate of 184.00. Gaikwad and Dube added 30 runs for the 5th wicket. Gaikwad produced some lovely shots putting bowlers under tremendous pressure and keeping the momentum going for CSK. The other CSK batters struggled with timing and would have liked more.
Gujarat Titans’ bowlers stalled the progress of Chennai Super Kings’ batting line up getting wickets of Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. MS Dhoni showed glimpses of his old self with 1 boundary and 1 six against Joshua Little to help CSK post 178 for 7 in 20 overs. For Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan grabbed 2 for 26, Alazzari Joseph 2 for 33, Shami 2 for 29, and Joshua Little 1 for 41.
Here is how Twitterati reacted to the knock of Ruturaj Gaikwad:
RUTURAJ GAIKWAD! Take your orange cap and leave son. It's over.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) March 31, 2023
Ruturaj dealing only with sixes. pic.twitter.com/uzli5f1Mu3
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 31, 2023
The match so far pic.twitter.com/aX3Okar2bp
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) March 31, 2023
There will never be a young player better than Ruturaj Gaikwad. pic.twitter.com/H9QbSKAbdg
— ` (@rahulmsd_91) March 31, 2023
He is lighting up the #TataIPL. Breathtaking from Ruturaj. https://t.co/C5OkkaVdC2
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 31, 2023
Ruturaj Gaikwad what a spectacular innings 🔥
Just short of a well deserved century 💔#IPL2023 #WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/J2kT5zaiQF— Shivam Jaiswal 🦁💛 (@7jaiswalshivam) March 31, 2023
Ruturaj Gaikwad has middled 94% of the balls so far and he's batting at a strike rate of 225. pic.twitter.com/cxT6UCoF2C
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) March 31, 2023
Ruturaj and the whole CSK batting unit today. pic.twitter.com/aoCYHBJczi
— ; (@AIH183no) March 31, 2023
End of that crazy knock of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Missed well deserved century. pic.twitter.com/aaQZoGOKwo
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) March 31, 2023
RUTURAJ WHATTA KNOCK😍😍😍😍 Deserved a century but oh well save ot for next match👍👍👍 @Ruutu1331
— Jo (@fallin_asteroid) March 31, 2023
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