Michael Hussey compares Ruturaj Gaikwad's leadership qualities with MS Dhoni

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Source: BCCI/IPL)

The former Australian batter Michael Hussey has lavished praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad's calmness and leadership qualities. 

Gaikwad has been one of the finest Indian players in Indian cricket for the last few years. He shot to fame in the Indian Premier League 2020 with 204 runs in six innings for Chennai Super Kings. He then won the Orange Cap in the subsequent edition with 635 runs and helped CSK to win the title. 

Although he has featured in 9 T20Is and 1 ODI, he was overlooked from the national squad. As a result, Gaikwad had to prove his mettle in domestic cricket. He got the confidence by scoring 124* for Maharashtra against the Railways in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022. 

The 25-year-old batter produced a sensational knock of 220* against UP, while scoring 43 runs in an over. In a pressure game against Assam in the semi-finals, he continued his sublime form to hit 168 off 126 balls. 

Hussey, who is also the CSK batting coach spoke on the form and mindset of Gaikwad. Although he didn't directly comment on the future CSK captain, he thinks the opening batter is calm in handling the pressure like MS Dhoni. The former Aussie star also thinks Gaikwad has terrific leadership qualities. 

“I’m not sure what the plans for the future at CSK, but like Dhoni, he is very calm. He has got some excellent leadership qualities,” Hussey told The Indian Express.

Gaikwad will  will look to continue the same form,  when he leads Maharashtra in the final of Vijay Hazare Trophy against Saurashtra on Friday (December 1). 

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