Ruturaj Gaikwad Breaks MS Dhoni’s Record for Major Feat as CSK Captain After 17 Years

Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed an unbeaten century, scoring 108 runs off 60 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes, as CSK scored a competitive 210 for four against Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This marked the first time a CSK captain has hit a century in the IPL and also the highest score by a CSK captain. Gaikwad, who took over the captaincy from MS Dhoni this season, batted as an opener, while Dhoni usually played in the middle order.

Shivam Dube contributed a quick-fire 66 off 27 balls, including 3 fours and 7 sixes, forming a crucial partnership of 104 runs with Gaikwad for the fourth wicket. Gaikwad’s innings was particularly noteworthy for his classic and masterful strokeplay, showcasing a blend of timing and placement rather than just sheer power hitting. He initially focused on rotating the strike, maintaining a high strike-rate while not hitting any fours in his first fifty runs.

The partnership with Dube saw a shift in momentum as Dube unleashed powerful hitting, adding crucial runs and sixes to the total. Gaikwad, however, continued to anchor the innings and eventually reached his second IPL hundred with a boundary. Their partnership of 100 runs came in just 46 balls, solidifying the CSK innings and ultimately contributing to their formidable total of 210.

Overall, Gaikwad’s unbeaten century and Dube’s aggressive innings proved instrumental in propelling CSK to a commanding position in the match.