Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a valiant knock in the IPL 2023 opener against Gujarat Titans, scoring 92 off 50 deliveries.
Chennai Super Kings’ star batter Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a brilliant performance in the opening match of the 2023 Indian Premier League, as he scored a valiant 92 off just 50 deliveries. While CSK did lose the game by five wickets, Gaikwad earned the laurels from fans and former cricketers alike for his innings. The CSK were invited to bat by Gujarat Titans in the season opener, and Gaikwad turned on the heat in style even as the Super Kings lost quick wickets at the other end. The youngster fell merely 8 runs short of repeating Brendon McCullum’s heroics, as he could’ve become only the second batter to score a century in the first match of the season.
Gaikwad smashed the Titans bowlers all around a park in a stellar knock, he hit nine sixes and four fours in his innings, and former India cricketer Virender Sehwag made a rather strong remark as he lauded the CSK opener. Talking about Gaikwad in the mid-match show on Cricbuzz, Sehwag namedropped Virat Kohli in massive praise towards the 26-year-old batter.
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“I often use these words for Virat Kohli, but the way he batted today, it was a real joy to my eyes. That’s the way he batted. No one was able to connect shots (for CSK) in that innings, everyone was getting out early, but he continued with his strong shots. He scored more sixes than fours in his innings! And that’s when he doesn’t have a reputation of scoring sixes,” Sehwag said.
“Yes, he did hit seven sixes in an over in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy domestic tournament last season. And I don’t think that record will ever be broken. This was a brilliant innings. I think he would be disappointed to not score a century, and the height call on delivery was debatable. But then again, umpire’s decision is paramount,” Sehwag further said.
In the run-chase, Shubman Gill (63 off 36 balls) led the run-chase for the side and the duo of Rahul Tewatia (15*) and Rashid Khan (10* off 3 balls) played an impactful cameo in the end to take the Titans past the finishing line.