Former Australian spin bowler Brad Hogg has advised talented CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad to focus on playing for CSK only instead of thinking about playing for India as he has been struggling recently. He was in sublime form last year and finished as the highest run-getter for his side as well. But, this season, he has only scored 0, 1, 1 and 16 as the defending champions lost all four games so far.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hogg said: “If Gaikwad is thinking of playing for India rather than what he can do for the team, he’s going to be found wanting. Because you can’t think like that. You’ve got to focus on what you’re doing now and let everything else take care of itself.”
He smashed 635 runs in IPL 2021 and won the IPL Orange Cap. He had an average of 45.35, scoring a hundred and four fifties as they clinched their fourth title. The veteran also explained CSK’s struggles by saying that they have been struggling in all three departments.
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Brad Hogg said: “Simply, they are not batting, bowling or fielding well. All three departments, they are outplayed. We go to the top of the order first – Ruturaj Gaikwad. At present, he has had his struggles on the bouncier wickets up here in Mumbai. He doesn’t know whether to play the cut shot or backfoot drive; he is just flirting outside the off-stump and giving opportunities to the opposition teams. Also, remember he had a breakout season last year. Now opposition teams know that he’s had a couple of opportunities for India, so they’ll be better planned to bowl against him in those powerplay overs, and it’s working so far.”
Hogg also added that a change in the opening combination could help Gaikwad’s gameplay, as Faf du Plessis was a more experienced campaigner than Robin Uthappa. Hogg also thinks Robin Uthappa should bat down the order instead of opening.
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“Also, he’s got a new opening combination where he is trying to get comfortable there. Faf du Plessis with more experience last year was able to bat through the innings, took a lot of pressure off Gaikwad, and now he’s trying to find that from Uthappa, who is opening with him. Uthappa is a fantastic batsman, but CSK would rather have him down the order than opening the batting. But because they don’t have that batting depth, they have to go with that particular combination,” Brad Hogg concluded.
