Chennai Super Kings opener and India’s rising star Ruturaj Gaikwad gave fans a rare treat in the ongoing Buchi Babu Trophy 2025, as he not only rolled his arm over but also picked up a wicket. Known more for his elegant batting, Gaikwad surprised many when he came on to bowl for Maharashtra against Chhattisgarh and dismissed Sourabh Majumdar with a sharp caught-and-bowled effort.
The moment came late in the day after Gaikwad had been struck for a six. Showing resilience, he responded with a wicket, bringing Chhattisgarh’s innings to an end at 252. This was particularly significant as it marked Gaikwad’s first appearance in competitive cricket since his elbow injury during the IPL 2025 season.
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That setback had forced him out midway through the tournament, compelling MS Dhoni to return as captain of CSK. The Maharashtra Cricket Association even shared a clip of the dismissal, highlighting the special moment as Gaikwad wrapped up the innings with his solitary over. Fans were delighted to see him not just back on the field but also making an impact with the ball.
Ruturaj Gaikwad closed the day, bowling an over and taking a wicket off to wrap up today’s Chhattisgarh’s innings in the Day 1 of the Buchi Babu Multi-Day Tournament🏏
Video Courtesy: TNCA#MCA #MCAcricket #Mahacricket #TeamMaha #cricketmaharashtra pic.twitter.com/jzdM29ULdo
— Maharashtra Cricket Association (@MahaCricket) August 18, 2025
The Buchi Babu Trophy, one of India’s oldest domestic tournaments, has a special place in Indian cricket. Revived in 2023 after a six-year break, it is named after cricket pioneer Buchi Babu Naidu. This year, 16 teams, along with TNCA President’s XI and TNCA XI, are competing across various venues in Chennai.
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The format adds to the excitement – league games last three days, with teams batting 90 overs in the first innings and 45 in the second. The knockouts, however, stretch to four days with 90 overs per innings. The winner will earn ₹3 lakh, while the runner-up will receive ₹2 lakh.
For Gaikwad, this small but impactful bowling spell is another reminder of his versatility. While his primary role remains that of a top-order run-getter, this wicket will certainly be remembered as one of the more unusual chapters in his career.
Maharashtra squad: Ankeet Bawane (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Siddhesh Veer, Sachin Dhas, Arshin Kulkarni, Harshal Kate, Siddharth Mhatre, Saurabh Nawale (WK), Mandar Bhandari (WK), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Vicky Ostwal, Hitesh Walunj, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
