Chennai Super Kings (CSK) openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad created history on May 20 during their clash against Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Conway and Gaikwad have become the fastest opening pair for CSK to score 1,000 runs in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
Gaikwad and Conway took just 20 innings to breach the 1,000 run-mark together. There are only five other pairs who have put on more than 100 runs together in IPL. Conway and Gaikwad shared a 141-run opening partnership in their last league clash. This was their fourth century partnership between the two, most by any CSK pair in the IPL. Also, it is the fourth-highest opening partnership for CSK.
Overall, the fastest to 1,000 runs as an opening pair in the IPL are former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) openers Jonny Bairstow and David Warner. Bairstow and Warner took just 16 innings to achieve the feat. The second on the list are former Punjab Kings (PBKS) openers Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul who took 19 innings to breach the 1,000-run mark.
Gaikwad scored 79 runs from 50 deliveries including three fours and seven sixes. The partnership came to an end in the 15th over as Chetan Sakariya got the breakthrough. Gaikwad was ruthless against spinners and hit Axar Patel for three consecutive sixes in the 12th over.
On the other end, Conway missed a chance to score his maiden IPL century. The former New Zealand batter got out in the penultimate over to Anrich Nortje. The southpaw scored 87 runs from 52 deliveries. His knock was studded with 11 fours and three sixes.
Ruturaj and Gaikwad laid the foundation for a big total. With cameos from Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, CSK posted 223/3. This is the highest total for CSK against the Delhi franchise in IPL history. The previous best was 222/5 against Virender Sehwag-led side in IPL 2012.
CSK batting coach Mike Hussey lauded the openers as he said after the innings: “If you'd asked me if you would take 223 at the start, I would bite my hands off. They've had a special relationship (on Ruturaj and Conway), complement each other well and bring the right-left hand angle as well, this pair has worked well for us.”
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