After securing a crucial victory against KKR, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) found their winning momentum once again, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the charge with a notable knock of 67 runs. Gaikwad expressed a sense of nostalgia as he recalled that MS Dhoni, who was also present during his first IPL fifty, was by his side once again during this victory.
CSK’s triumph was a collective effort, with stellar performances from Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, and Ravindra Jadeja in the bowling department, followed by Gaikwad and Shivam Dube’s impressive batting displays.
CSK’s stronghold at the MA Chidambaram Stadium continued as they comfortably chased down the target set by KKR, putting an end to KKR’s unbeaten streak in the IPL 2024 edition. Gaikwad, unbeaten at 67, sealed the win for CSK and attributed his success to the support and guidance of MS Dhoni and head coach Stephen Fleming.
In the absence of Ajinkya Rahane, Gaikwad took on the responsibility of anchoring the innings, ensuring that the team’s younger players were not burdened.
Gaikwad said: “Little nostalgic for me. During my first IPL fifty, a similar situation, Mahi bhai was with me and we finished the match. With Jinx injured, onus was on me to bat through, didn’t want to put the youngsters in a difficult situation. Was a 150-160 wicket. Jaddu always comes in after the power play with momentum in the spin department.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad shares his thoughts about the slow start
Reflecting on his innings, Gaikwad dismissed notions of a slow start, emphasizing the importance of leaving such discussions to the professionals. In a lighthearted manner, he underscored the positive attitude within the team, highlighting the collaborative environment fostered by Dhoni and Fleming.
Recapping the match, Gaikwad’s decision to bowl first proved fruitful as Jadeja’s exceptional spell and contributions from Deshpande limited KKR to 137/9.
Gaikwad further added: “With this team, I don’t really need to tell things to anyone. Everyone’s in a great head space, Mahi bhai and Fleming are still around to take those calls.”
“I wouldn’t say mine is a slow start, in T20s there are times you nick off one or two balls, sometimes you need a bit of luck to get going, maybe something for experts to talk about, with my strike rate (laughs).”
In the chase, Gaikwad’s composed half-century and Dube’s aggressive batting propelled CSK to their third victory of the season, breaking KKR’s winning streak and reaffirming their position as formidable contenders in the IPL.
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