In the aftermath of India's series victory against Australia, emerging opener Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged the influential role played by veteran MS Dhoni in shaping his understanding of the T20I game's tempo. Gaikwad, at 26, emerged as the standout performer in the series, amassing an impressive total of 213 runs at an average of 71.
His defining moment came in the third T20I in Guwahati, where he not only secured his maiden international century but also etched his name in history as the first Indian to hit a T20I hundred against Australia.
Gaikwad's unbeaten 123 off 57 balls in that innings catapulted India to a formidable total of 222-3, marking the second-highest individual score for India in T20I cricket. Reflecting on his understanding of the game's tempo, Ruturaj credited MS Dhoni, particularly emphasizing the lessons learned during his time with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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In an interview at JioCinema, Ruturaj shared insights into Dhoni's strategic approach, highlighting how the CSK skipper consistently communicates messages to players regarding the team's target score. Gaikwad emphasized Dhoni's keenness in reading situations and understanding the progression of the game. He revealed that Dhoni provides guidance on what the team needs to score at specific stages, irrespective of the batsman's personal situation.
Learning from Dhoni's strategic mindset during his CSK stint, Ruturaj expressed his commitment to replicating these valuable lessons. He underscored the importance of comprehending the team's requirements at any given moment in the game, a principle instilled by the former Indian captain.
"No, definitely. I would say I learned being in CSK because, you know, Mahi bhai is always keen on reading situations, you know, understanding the game, how the game will progress. And he more or less sends a message where you have to look for a team score."
"You know what the team requires at that certain stage, irrespective of where you are batting, Either you are batting on 15 or not out or you just started, what the team requires just in particular that over. So I think that has stayed with me. And I'm trying to continue that," said Ruturaj.
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