Happy Birthday Ruturaj Gaikwad: A look at CSK captain's special knocks as he turns 28 ahead

Happy Birthday Ruturaj Gaikwad: A look at his top knocks. (Photo: IPL/BCCI)

After his breakthrough IPL season in 2021, this correspondent had a conversation with former BCCI president and Chennai Super Kings supremo N Srinivasan. “Keep an eye on this boy. He will play for India soon,” Srinivasan had said.

Gaikwad announced his arrival with 635 runs, as CSK won their fourth IPL title. The tournament ended in May. A couple of months later, the young batsman from Maharashtra debuted for India in a T20I against Sri Lanka. His ODI debut would come in 2022, against South Africa. On Friday, Gaikwad celebrated his 28th birthday.

His career has gradually flourished. He is now the CSK captain and the franchise sees him as a long-term option. His appointment had MS Dhoni's seal of approval.

Along the way, Gaikwad has played some memorable knocks in different competitions. Here's the low-down…

At the 2021 IPL, Gaikwad scored 101 not out off just 60 balls against Rajasthan Royals, hitting nine fours and five sixes. Royals, however, won the match. But Gaikwad walked away with the Man-of-the-Match award.

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A 220 not out for Maharashtra against Uttar Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy next year was even more scintillating. Gaikwad took Shiva Singh to the cleaners, hitting seven sixes (there was an extra delivery in that over) on the spin against the bowler. It was a white-ball record. Overall, his innings had 16 sixes.

At the 2022 IPL, Gaikwad’s 99 off 57 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad was another special effort. He missed out on a century, but his knock won CSK the match.

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So far, Gaikwad hasn't sort of fulfilled his promise in red-ball cricket. He is actually a better player than his tally of 2,632 runs from 38 matches at an average of 41.77. Also, just seven hundreds so far in this format have been a bit underwhelming for a batsman of his talent. But make no mistake, Gaikwad is not a one-dimensional cricketer, batting-wise. Far from it.

His 195 in a Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu in January 2023 was a top innings. So far, it remains his highest score in first-class cricket.

Gaikwad's career of late appears to have hit a road bump. He needs a big IPL this year. Edging closer to thirty, the time has come for him to move to the next level.