Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Ruturaj Gaikwad after Chennai Super Kings registered a four-wicket win against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Sunday.
Chasing 156 runs for the win in the team’s opening game, CSK lost the early wicket of Rahul Tripathi, who was backed as an opener. Gaikwad, who pushed himself to number three, was able to hit the ground running, driving Trent Boult through the off-side.
The CSK captain completed his fifty off just 22 balls and seemed to have been batting on a different pitch as run-scoring wasn’t as easy as he made it look.
Chopra compared Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting style with former Indian flamboyant batter VVS Laxman.
“Rahul Tripathi came to open in the run chase. He got out to Deepak Chahar. Then Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ruturaj Gaikwad played at a strike rate of 200, but it seemed from nowhere that he played at that strike rate. That’s the beauty. It’s like VVS Laxman style of batting,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra hailed Gaikwad’s elegant strokeplay against Mumbai Indians as the conditions weren’t that easy.
“It was batting from his school, that you would hit fours and sixes, the bowler would remain stunned, but would never complain. He would appreciate the shots. He is so elegant, so wonderful, just looking like a wow. He is that kind of a player. I am a huge Ruturaj Gaikwad fan. Going at a strike rate of 200 without playing agricultural shots, he is outstanding,” Chopra observed.
The renowned commentator noted that CSK would continue to back Rachin Ravindra ahead of Devon Conway after the former scored an unbeaten knock of 65 runs.
“There was a toss-up between Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, as to who they would want to play. They didn’t play Devon Conway and played Rachin Ravindra. It means the template has been set. Chennai try to continue what they do in the first match,” he said.
“Rachin Ravindra stayed till the end and batted extremely well. He played in a different style. When you remain unbeaten on 65 in a 158-run total, it means you played a slightly different brand of cricket, but that was the brand that was needed because wickets fell from the other end,” Chopra elaborated.
Chennai Super Kings will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.
