CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is having a great start to the domestic season. The Indian batter smashed a fiery century in the Deodhar Trophy semi-final against Central Zone at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Gaikwad scored a total of 184 runs from just 206 balls at a strike rate of 89, while facing the likes of Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Yash Thakur, and even Harsh Dubey.
What’s really interesting is the scenario in which he walked in to bat was anything but batter-friendly. It was the fourth over of the game, and his former CSK teammate Deepak Chahar had just reduced West Zone to 10 for 2.
From there, Jaiswal added 82 runs for the third wicket while batting with the young Arya Desai. Later, he also had a massive 148-run partnership with Tanush Kotian of Mumbai for the sixth wicket.
In his free-flowing inning, Gaikwad scored 25 fours and 1 six. With this, he registered his 8th first-class century. Surprisingly, this was his first competitive appearance since his injury in IPL 2025.
Gaikwad on his Deodhar Trophy Century
“I had good time to prepare, especially after not being part of the India A series. And then after that coming back, I decided to work on my red ball game, give it some amount of time and obviously still working on it, still long way to go,” said Gaikwad, in a conversation with News 18.
Ruturaj Gaikwad emphasized that his recent performances were the result of following the right process rather than chasing outcomes. He highlighted how red-ball cricket demands patience and rhythm, something he worked on consistently for over a month, including during the Buchi Babu tournament.
The injury layoff, though unfortunate, turned into a mental reset for him, giving him valuable family time. He used the break to focus on small routines, gradually returning to his game rhythm, and described the journey back as something he thoroughly enjoyed.
Lean patch of form
Ruturaj Gaikwad was going through a lean patch following his elbow injury, which ruled him out for the season. Following that, he was sent to England as a part of the India A team, but failed to perform to his fullest.
Later, he had signed up for a County stint, but couldn’t compete in the tournament because of some personal reasons, which forced him to return home before the season even began.
Even the invitational Buchi Babu saw some low scores from the batter until he scored a double century in the final game, which brought him back to form.
Gaikwad’s route to Indian team
What’s really interesting about this inning was the position in which Gaikwad came on to bat. It was not as an opener, but rather at the 4th number. This shows the transition that he’s going through.
Everyone is well aware that the Indian test team has a stable opening pair in the form of KL Rahul and Jaiswal. Hence, if Ruturaj Gaikwad wants to make a mark, he will have to bat down the order, and maybe the batter is prepping for the same.
This century, and the manner in which it was played out, couldn’t have come at a better time for Gaikwad. Everyone is aware of the lack of reliable middle-order batters that the Indian team is suffering with, and this century might just place Gaikwad at the top of the selectors’ list.
However, with the series against West Indies almost a month away, it will be interesting to see if Gaikwad can keep up his batting performance and deliver consistent results.
