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Maharashtra's captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is an unstoppable force that knows no limits and is on a roll as he continues to hit the purple patch. The Chennai Super Kings opener hit another ton in the final of the 2022 Vijay Hazare trophy on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. This is in-form Gaikwad's third hundred on the trot of 108 off just 131 deliveries, followed by two brilliant tons, 220 against Uttar Pradesh and the other against Assam 168. Now the latest third century has trebled his lead of hundreds in an all-important final against Saurashtra becoming only the third player to achieve the landmark of 600 runs in five matches.
The 29-year-old elegant opener with this century he amassed his 12th century which is the most by any player in the history of the Vijay Hazare tournament. He did not stop there as record-breaking knocks pelt down another record he breached which is of former Indian batter part of the 2007 T20 World Cup Robin Uthappa. Uthappa smacked 11 centuries which was the most by any player in Vijay Hazare Trophy which helped Karnataka clinch their maiden Vijay Hazare title in the 2013-14 season.
Now, Gaikwad will be looking to end the tournament on a similar note where his team has put up a defendable target of 248 with the skipper scoring the bulk of runs. Gaikwad's innings had seven fours and four sixes which saw a tentative start to it. Having lost his opener partner Pavan Shah for just four runs early, Gaikwad had to tread carefully and was watchful. It took 96 balls for him to reach his 50 but soon once he had got the hang of it, he stepped took just 29 deliveries to touch three figures before falling prey to a runout himself.
Gaikwad moved into the three-figure mark in eight of his last 10 Vijay Hazare Trophy outings. 168 (126), 220* (159), 40 (42), 124* (123), 168 (132), 21 (18), 124 (129), 154* (143), and 136 (112) read his preceding nine scores before this contest.
