Chennai Super Kings’ Ruturaj Gaikwad played a captain’s knock of 74 not out from 60 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and four maximums, but it came at a sluggish pace. His 49-ball fifty against Gujarat Titans on Sunday slotted him into CSK’s fourth-slowest IPL half-century list.
The Chepauk clash started disastrously for CSK, who lost the toss and four wickets for 37 runs by the ninth over. Enter Shivam Dube, whose 22 off 17 balls in a 59-run partnership with Gaikwad off 43 deliveries halted the slide.
Post-Dube’s departure, Gaikwad farmed the strike masterfully, pushing CSK to 158-7 in 20 overs. Supporting cameos from Karthik Sharma (15) and Jamie Overton (18) helped, but Gujarat bowlers shone: Rabada’s 3 wickets, Arshad Khan’s 2, and singles from Siraj and Suthar.
This marks Gaikwad’s joint-fourth slowest fifty, matching Murali Vijay (2013 vs RR) and Dwayne Smith (2014 vs MI). Ahead lie Parthiv Patel (53 balls, 2010 vs PBKS), Hayden (51, 2009 vs MI), and Vijay again (50, 2013 vs PBKS).
In T20’s high-octane world, Gaikwad’s measured approach raises questions on strike rates amid CSK’s batting woes. With IPL 2025 heating up, can the opener accelerate to turn unwanted stats into winning momentum? Fans await his response in upcoming battles.
