Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad played a sensational knock against Mumbai Indians in the opening game of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League 2021 in Dubai. He mentioned he is feeling proud after playing this blinder of a knock for his team.
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a fifty
CSK got off to a poor start as they lost Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali for a duck in the first two overs. Ambati Rayudu got retired hurt in the same over. Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni were, then, got out inside the powerplay as well.
CSK were 24/4 after six overs and were starring at a modest total. Ruturaj Gaikwad, however, had some other ideas as he held one end tight. He scored boundaries on every given ball and didn’t throw his wicket.
Eventually, he blasted MI bowlers for boundaries in the death overs and found a good ally in Dwayne Bravo who played a cameo of 23 runs in 8 balls.
Gaikwad remained unbeaten for 88 in 58 balls where he hit nine fours and four sixes. This is the highest score by a CSK batsman against MI bettering Michael Hussey’s 86.
“I’m very tired right now, but proud that I carried the innings for my team. My job was just to bat long at that stage (after CSK lost 4 wickets in the powerplay),” said Gaikwad during the innings break.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
“You always have to start fresh, it’s good to get off to a great start. It’s a two-paced wicket and there’s a bit of turn for the spinners as well,” Gaikwad said.
Gaikwad’s knock propelled CSK to 156/6 in 20 overs. MI couldn’t chase the target and lost the game by 20 runs.
