Talented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad set the stage alight with his batting masterclass in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 tournament opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday (March 31) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ruturaj was in top form, looking all good for his second hundred but unfortunately returned to the pavilion for 92 off 50 balls against Gujarat Titans. He missed out scoring a well-deserved ton from just right runs.

Gaikwad’s impactful innings, laced up with three blistering boundaries and six massive sixes, helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) post a competitive 179-run target for defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) after being invited to bat first. 

ALSO READ | CSK vs GT: MS Dhoni’s No-Nonsense Verdict On ‘Impact Player’ Rule In IPL 2023

Meanwhile, a video is doing rounds on social media in which Chennai Super Kings (CSK) dugout can be seen giving a heartfelt ‘Whistle Podu’ tribute to Ruturaj Gaikwad as soon as he hit a huge six over fine leg to reach his fifty.

Watch the viral video below…

RUTURAJ GAIKWAD REMEMBER THE NAMEEEE #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/cflY1ZRmtw

— YUVRAJ(DHONI FREAK) (@YuvrajSiingh_) March 31, 2023

Apart from Ruturaj, CSK legend MS Dhoni was another player who played a valuable innings for his team. Dhoni’s fiery cameo (14 runs off 7 balls) consisted of a four and a six as he scored runs with a strike rate of 200.

FUN FACT: Batters in Indian Premier League (IPL) history with 200 or more sixes for a single IPL team

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) player Chris Gayle hit 239 sixes in his IPL career, followed by another RCB legend and his former teammate AB de Villiers (238 sixes), ex-Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Kieron Pollard (223 sixes), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Virat Kohli (218 sixes) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) veteran MS Dhoni (200 sixes). 

Earlier, Gujarat’s Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl against Chennai Super Kings. Chennai included Rajvardhan Hangargekar in their playing XI, giving him a chance to debut in the T20 league.

GT vs CSK Playing XI’s:

Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Hardik Pandya(c), Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar