“I often use these words for Virat Kohli..."Sehwag likens Gaikwad to Indian star after stunning knock vs GT
Ruturaj Gaikwad missed out on a well-deserved ton (IPL Twitter)
In the opening match of the 2023 Indian Premier League, Chennai Super Kings opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad, delivered a stunning performance, scoring a remarkable 92 off just 50 deliveries. Despite CSK's defeat by five wickets to defending champions Gujarat Titans, the elegant batter's exemplary innings has earned him high praise from fans and former cricketers alike.
Former Indian opener, Virender Sehwag, expressed his awe at Gaikwad's brilliant knock and was full of praise for the 26-year-old batter. The Indian veteran drew comparisons with Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli, stating that he often uses words of this nature to describe Kohli's play style.
Sehwag went on to say that Gaikwad's batting was truly a joy to witness and that he was the only one connecting shots in the innings. He also lauded the fact that the CSK star hit more sixes than fours, despite not being renowned for his six-hitting abilities.
“I often use these words for Virat Kohli, but the way he batted today, it was a real joy to my eyes. That's the way he batted. No one was able to connect shots (for CSK) in that innings, everyone was getting out early, but he continued with his strong shots. He scored more sixes than fours in his innings! And that's when he doesn't have a reputation of scoring sixes,” Sehwag said.
The erstwhile cricketer further commented that it was an extraordinary innings. He added that even though Gaikwad would be disappointed to have missed out on a century, the decision on the height of the ball that led to his dismissal was a matter of the umpire's discretion.
Despite Gaikwad's brilliant batting, CSK could not secure a win as Gujarat Titans successfully chased down a target of 179. Shubman Gill led the charge for Gujarat Titans with his impressive knock of 63 off 36 balls, while Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan played impactful cameos towards the end to seal the victory.
It remains to be seen how both teams will fare in the upcoming matches of the tournament, but Gaikwad's magnificent innings will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout performances of the tournament's opening matches.