IPL: Brian Lara compares Ruturaj Gaikwad to KL Rahul – Show of batsmanship
Legendary batsman and former West Indies captain Brian Lara said he was extremely impressed with Ruturaj Gaikwad’s prowess in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) opener reached a record century, albeit losing in a match against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Lara said Gaikwad proves that one can score big in T20 cricket with orthodox shots and it gives him great pleasure watching the CSK opener dominate the opposition with his silky gameplay.
Lara’s comments came after Gaikwad took the Rajasthan bowlers to the cleaners on Saturday. Gaikwad got off to a slow start, hitting 30 runs off his first 29 balls but he ended up with 101 not out in just 60 balls, helping CSK post 189/4 in 20 overs after RR sent them in to bat.
Gaikwad showcased his class, hitting spinners inside-out and sending pacers on a leather hunt with his elegance. He needed a six off the last two balls of the CSK innings to get to his maiden hundred and he missed the penultimate delivery. However, Ruturaj held his stance and smashed the final delivery into the mid-wicket stands to become the youngest batsman to score a hundred for CSK in the IPL.
“Yeah, he could have been 135 if he had got more strike in the end overs. But it was a complete show of batsmanship. That’s what I like about him, seeing how he put that innings together, how he surged in the second half of the innings. He was just tremendous to watch,” Lara says.
“He shows that you can play good cricket shots and still score big runs. And that’s what I am proud of as a batsman. It was just remarkable and unbelievable.
“I will put him now in the KL Rahul category.”
Ruturaj Gaikwad also bagged the Orange Cap from KL Rahul, becoming the first batsman in IPL 2021 to get to 500 runs. Ruturaj now has 508 runs in 12 matches at an average of over 50 and a strike rate over 140.
Ruturaj is improving with every game: Agarkar
The 24-year-old grabbed the limelight in IPL 2021, providing CSK fans something to cheer for with three fifties in a season where the 3-time champions failed to qualify for the play-offs. He has grown from strength to strength, leading the CSK batting unit.
Lauding the young opener, former India pacer Ajit Agarkar said Ruturaj is carrying the CSK batting unit on his shoulders in IPL 2021.
“He took a little bit of time to get his first 30 rims and after that, he just took off. For me, he has been the find for CSK in the last season and a half. He is improving with every game. He is carrying their batting at the moment. He needed 6 off the last two balls. He misses one and hits the last one, it’s incredible,” Agarkar said.
