On Sunday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricketer Ruturaj Gaikwad finally found some essential form at his home ground in Pune against the Gujarat Titans (GT). The 25-year-old performed a fantastic knock of 73 off just 48 balls and supported his team to get to a combat total.
Coming into the game against the Titans, Gaikwad was under a little bit of pressure, having secured just 55 runs in the first 6-games. Although, the opener showed completely why CSK had retained him.
Fans on Twitter were overjoyed to see Ruturaj Gaikwad back in form as they think he is too good a performer to miss out on the big runs. Here are some of the Fan’s reactions:
After 28 Innings in IPL
Only Two Indians Scored 900+ runs
Sachin Tendulkar
Ruturaj Gaikwad*#CSKvsGT— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad brother, time to heal the CSK fans. We are pleading.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 17, 2022
First fifty of IPL 2022 by Ruturaj Gaikwad in 37 balls. A great and much awaited knock by Gaikwad.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 17, 2022
Half century for Ruturaj Gaikwad – his first this season. Solid knock from the opener for CSK! #GTvCSK #TATAIPL #IPL2022
Follow the game here https://t.co/53tJkfV05q pic.twitter.com/NyLyjo6TS4
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 17, 2022
Today is the first day that I ignored Ruturaj Gaikwad from my Dream 11 and guess what… 🥰🥰🥰
— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad goes for a brilliant 73 in 48 balls. A very welcome innings by him, he looked in excellent touch tonight. pic.twitter.com/ehv56c4w9B
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 17, 2022
Those trademark step down the track shots on display again! This is Ruturaj Gaikwad at his very best – this was how he lit up the previous season. Such a relief for CSK that he's been at his best tonight, not so much for GT of course. Been a superb stand! #IPL2022 #GTvCSK
— Soorya Sesha (@sooryasesha7) April 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/ReignOfVirat/status/1515713389867446274
CSK fans to Ruturaj Gaikwad's form pic.twitter.com/vvFP4IwNZP
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 17, 2022
A Top Knock Comes to an end now from Ruturaj Gaikwad. He scored Brilliant 73 runs from 48 balls including 5 fours and 5 Sixes against Gujarat Titans. Superb Innings from Gaikwad. pic.twitter.com/JeSTeFb5MZ
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 17, 2022
had a chat with Virat Kohli in the last game and today he is performing and showing his class with the bat. Ruturaj Gaikwad show tonight.🔥 pic.twitter.com/kaPJ5i30Fh
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) April 17, 2022
Most 50+ scores by Indians for CSK :
40 – Suresh Raina
23 – MS Dhoni
12 – Subramaniam Badrinath
12 – Murali Vijay
9* – Ruturaj Gaikwad
8 – Ambati RayuduRuturaj goes past Rayudu in the list, while batting alongside him today.#IPL2022 #GTvCSK
— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad is back! 🥳💛#GTvCSK #WhistlePodu @Ruutu1331
📷 BCCI/IPL pic.twitter.com/ERhR51s2JZ— WhistlePodu Army ® – CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) April 17, 2022
There will never be a young player better than Ruturaj Gaikwad.
— ` (@rahulmsd_91) April 17, 2022
Best bowling attack in the tournament,
Team is struggling big time.
Couldn't buy a run in the tournament.When going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is well truly and back.
Quality knock from a quality batter.— Mohit Katta (@MohitKattaC1733) April 17, 2022
#CSKvsGT #IPL2022 #CSK
Welcome back, Ruturaj Gaikwad.👏 pic.twitter.com/mvSMvDDcDn— Cric kid (@ritvik5_) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad's fantastic Innings comes to an End! 🦁🔥#WhistlePodu | #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/SYBrsK7DVG
— CSK Fans Army™ (@CSKFansArmy) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj gaikwad vs Shubman Gill.😋 pic.twitter.com/NZ7xu2cP5s
— Sahil. (@vkrightarmquick) April 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/_UnrealDaniel/status/1515706469995450368
#CSKvGT#CSKvsGT #Yellove #WhistlePodu
Ruturaj Gaikwad when asked ,
"what would you like to say to critics?"
Ruturaj, a man of action. : pic.twitter.com/Dh2V0XLWOQ— Anonymous9726 (@Anonymous97261) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj gaikwad smashing half century
Csk fans : #CSKvsGT pic.twitter.com/uITHmridGF— Prathamesh (@Memesrestic) April 17, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s classy 73 takes CSK to 169/5
Gujarat Titans were without the benefits of Hardik Pandya, and stand-in skipper Rashid Khan was glad to win the toss and bowl primary. Chennai didn’t get to the best in the beginning as they lost the in-form Robin Uthappa for just-3. Moeen Ali’s poor form kept, and CSK were 2-wickets down inside the powerplay.
This was when Ruturaj Gaikwad step up and started to up the ante. The 25-year-old got help from the other end in Ambati Rayudu, and the duo secured quick runs. Gaikwad brought up his first 50 of TATA IPL 2022 and added 92 runs for the 3rd wicket with Rayudu.
But when it looked like CSK would withdraw to reach the 180-run mark, the Gujarat Titans bowlers pulled gear back to an extent. Alzarri Joseph struck with Rayudu’s wicket, and Yash Dayal removed Gaikwad after attempting to play the flick over deep square leg.
Talking about the last game’s hero, Shivam Dube couldn’t really find his timing. But some late blows from Ravindra Jadeja supported CSK across the 160-run mark as they finished up with 169/5.
However, 170 looks like an available score, and the Titans are without the services of Pandya, the cricketer. They will once again rely on Shubman Gill to provide them with a quick start.
CSK, on the other side, will take confidence from their bowling performance in the previous match and look to get their 2nd victory of the season.