Ruturaj Gaikwad, an Indian opener, has credited his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni with teaching him game sense in T20s, which includes reading the score and batting accordingly.
Gaikwad scored 32 runs off 28 balls in the fourth T20I against Australia on Friday. India batted first and scored 174/9 to win by 20 runs. He smashed a magnificent 57-ball 123 in the third game, the second-highest T20I total in a losing cause. He began the innings by scoring 21 runs in 21 balls before belting 102 runs in 36 balls.
“No, definitely. I would say I learned being in CSK because, you know, Mahi bhai is always keen on reading situations, you know, understanding the game, how the game will progress. And he is more or less sends a message where you have to look for a team score.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad
“You know what the team requires at that certain stage, irrespective of where you are batting, Either you are batting on 15 or not out or you just started, what the team requires just in particular that over. So I think that has stayed with me. And I’m trying to continue that.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad
With 213 runs scored at an average of 71 and a strike rate of 166.41, the opener is presently the series’ leading scorer.
“Technique does not shackle you, it liberates you” – Aakash Chopra on Ruturaj Gaikwad
Aakash Chopra, a cricketer-turned-commentator, said after Gaikwad’s century on Tuesday that the innings taught him that strong technique “liberates” a player rather than restricts him.
“He had scored 22 runs off his first 22 balls and you were thinking what was happening. It was a reconstruction phase but Surya was hitting and Rutu was still taking his time. 210-220 had to be scored. You couldn’t have even fought in anything less than that.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra Added:
“Then Ruturaj Gaikwad changed gears. Certain players make you realize repeatedly that technique does not shackle you, it liberates you. He batted extremely well. He was brilliant, scored 123.”
Aakash Chopra
The fifth and final T20I between India and Australia will be played on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. IST.
