Struggling Ruturaj Gaikwad slams 48-ball 97 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Concerns surrounding Ruturaj Gaikwad’s form were alleviated when he scored a blistering 97 runs off just 48 balls against Meghalaya in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Prior to this match, the Maharashtra skipper had struggled, managing scores of 1, 19, 4, and 2 in his last four outings. However, his explosive innings featured six fours and eight sixes, achieving a strike rate of 202 and showcasing his return to form.
This performance comes as Maharashtra seeks to improve their position in the tournament, currently sitting fifth with two wins out of five matches. Gaikwad’s resurgence is timely as he prepares for IPL 2025, especially after CSK’s disappointing finish last season. Since taking over the captaincy from MS Dhoni, Gaikwad aims to prove himself after CSK failed to reach the playoffs.
In his IPL career, Gaikwad has been impressive, scoring 2,380 runs at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 136 across 66 matches. Last season alone, he scored 583 runs at an average of 53, including a century and four fifties. His recent innings could serve as a crucial stepping stone for both his domestic and IPL aspirations