IPL 2023 kick-started on a rollicking note last well. So far only 6 games have taken and fans have seen everything in them. Talking about the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), it was a dismal outing for them in the tournament opener as they lost against Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets. But they staged a dominating comeback with a resounding win against Lucknow Super Giants in their fortress, Chepauk Stadium.
IPL 2023: “I am not looking at Orange cap,” Ruturaj Gaikwad’s bold statement after two half-centuries in IPL 16
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has been the hero of the team in the two games they have played so far in the IPL 2023. The MS Dhoni-led side is currently 6th on the points table with one win and one loss to their name.
In both games, young opener Gaikwad has been exceptional with the bat as he has provided his team with a rollicking start in both games. What has been impressive about his batting has been his aggressive approach. The right-hander takes on the bowlers from the start and puts them under pressure.
In the first game against Gujarat Titans, Gaikwad was the lone warrior for his side as he played a magnificent knock that took his team to a decent total. The right-hander scored 92 runs in 50 balls, smashing 4 fours and 9 sixes, on a pitch where other CSK batters struggled to get going.
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Gaikwad then continued his red-hot form in CSK’s second game as well as he yet again gave his team a staggering start. The batter scored a brutal half-century in 31 balls and stitched 110 runs in partnership with Devon Conway. The Indian opener scored 57 runs with the help of 3 fours and 4 sixes.
With his two staggering half-centuries in the league, Gaikwad now scored 149 runs in the two games and is currently the leading run-getter of the tournament. The opener, however, said that he has no interest in the orange cap as his only focus is to give team starts. He said: “I am not looking at Orange cap, need to give good starts & contribute to the team as we didn’t have a good year in 2022″.
IPL 2023: Chennai Super Kings thump Lucknow Super Giants by 12 runs
After suffering a disappointing loss in the first game against GT, CSK made a staggering comeback and thumped LSG by 12 runs to mark their first win of the season. Asked to bat first, Gaikwad and Conway (47) gave them a staggering start. The opening partnership was well complimented by the cameos of Shivam Dube (27) and Ambati Rayudu (27*) before MS Dhoni smashed two sixes to help his side finish the innings on high and post 217 runs on the board.
Defending the target, they were put under pressure by Kyle Mayers, who smashed a fabulous half-century. But their spinners got them back in the game as they reduced LSG to 130/5 from 79/0. Nichols Pooran played a good hand but couldn’t take his side home as young CSK pacers bowled staggeringly well to win the game for the team.
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