'He Has to Become an EV Now': Aakash Chopra on CSK's Star-Batter

image-lft4ba2wGaikwad held the orange cap in IPL 2021 (iplt20.com)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 is upon us, with the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on four-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the tournament opener on Friday. After a poor outing in IPL 2022, the MS Dhoni-led franchise will be eager to turn their fortunes around.

Much will depend on one of their batting mainstays in Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is coming off a wrist injury that kept him out of India's home season this winter. Gaikwad has been prolific in the domestic season, slamming runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022-23, which includes seven sixes in an over.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra, however, issued a warning to Gaikwad about learning to accelerate his innings from the onset. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former KKR batter also spoke about Ben Stokes' inclusion in the CSK side, which he found strange.


Here's what Chopra said

“It is possible that Ruturaj Gaikwad hits the ground up and running. Right now, he starts slowly and picks pace as he builds the innings. But the days of diesel engines are over, we have EVs now. Ruturaj has to become an electric vehicle,”

The 26-year-old amassed 660 runs in the VHT 2022 season, with four centuries and one double-century for Maharashtra.

Sadly, Gaikwad, in his limited chances for India, failed to leave a mark, having played one ODI and nine T20Is since 2021.