Mastering Malahide The Ruturaj Gaikwad Way
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored fifty in the second T20I against Ireland (Twitter)
The second T20I of the ongoing series against Ireland was actually no ordinary contest. Besides ultimately being a game that went down the visitors’s way, India usurping Ireland for the third time in a row (ever since their first bilateral series in 2018), it was a game of milestones.
Now how was that?
Not only did India’s rising and agile fast bowler Arshdeep Singh take his fiftieth T20I wicket and becoming the fastest Indian of them all to do so, his captain Jasprit Bumrah climbed thecharts to become the third highest wicket taker in the said format.
Bumrah’s bowling now stands head and shoulders above several captivating names that have plied their game for the country.
And that’s not all; the former Ireland captain Andy Birdie went past 2,000 T20I runs for his nation and stroked his tenth fifty in the testing format, which was no ordinary feat.
Where batting was concerned then India’s latest name to join the T20I bandwagon, Rinku Singh began with a bang; scoring a quickfire 21-ball-38 to give his beginnings for the much loved country a fine shape.
But truth be told, that’s not all that happened in the wonderful sphere of batting, a dimension of the game that has gone on to shape the format we admire for its nonstop streak of entertainment.
The impact of Ruturaj Gaikwad's vital fifty
Ruturaj Gaikwad, one of the most eagerly anticipated young talents with the bat truly brought the game to life with his rich vein of form.
Not only did Gaikwad perform well at the top of the order after hardly getting a chance in the Caribbean to prove his mettle, he actually scored the most runs for his highly competitive Indian team.
The manner in which he went about batting
The meatier aspect of his 43-ball-58 was the commanding ease with which he went about making his runs.
Perhaps one of Gaikwad’s classiest aspects as a batter could be that while he is concentrating so hard to be there and take up the big ownership of run-scoring, he looks perfectly sorted and unfazed at the crease.
The regal sense of timing with which Gaikwad went about stroking his runs was perhaps one of the finest aspects of the second game that just got concluded a few hours back at Malahide.
Yet, the clear trailblazer with the bat for India was this easy going but focused, determined young lad who doesn’t scream for attention.
Holding fort for India
That Gaikwad had his take cut out and was eager to come hard at the Irish bowlers after a couple of early Indian wickets fell was felt in the way he placed his inning.
He was, if aptly put, fluid and fast in the first half of his inning and more watchful and accepting of his role in the second half of it when Sanju Samson suddenly switched gears and became the aggressor.
As a matter of fact, by the time India had reached 81-2 at the completion of their 10 overs, Gaikwad had scored the lion’s share of it; 40 on his own.
But by the time he completed what became just his second T20I fifty and a first since reappearing for the shortest format’s duty, Gaikwad’s role had shifted to lend support to Samson who had his own story to tell and task to do.
Calm at the crease yet a perpetual collector of runs
Although all of that said, a truly under appreciated aspect of the game that truly became a series decider was just how long Ruturaj Gaikwad concentrated out there.
Unflinching towards almost the end, he only got out in the sixteenth over.
In addition to his ability to collect useful runs across different sides of the wicket, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s game doesn’t feature the element of mindless big hitting, which so often puts an end to a knock that’s begun well.
In times where many a youngster suffers from a dearth of chance given just how massive the challenge it is to selectors of affording them an opportunity, Gaikwad’s desire to bat on and stick around is a blessing for India.
The job ain’t over
Perhaps even more so at a time where Team India management is constantly willing to experiment unless and until the final combinations be reached and with much certainty.
Yet, that told, Ruturaj Gaikwad mustn’t waver in confidence and the Indian fan hopes, must remain mindful of the need to carry on to even promising scores ahead.
For this isn’t a team where a quickfire knock or two will guarantee any youngster irrespective of natural talent a confirmed berth.
Keep batting, Gaikwad.
 "Dev Tyagi")
