Ruturaj Gaikwad becomes fourth CSK player to reach 2,000 IPL runs

Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad made headlines on Sunday as he became only the fourth player from his franchise to reach the 2,000-run milestone in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 27-year-old achieved this feat in a thrilling match against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Gaikwad’s innings of 69 runs off 40 balls was described as his most fluent of the season, including five boundaries and five majestic sixes, with a strike rate of 172.50. In his IPL career spanning 58 matches, Gaikwad has amassed 2,021 runs at an impressive average of 39.62 and a strike rate of 134.91, with one century and 16 fifties to his name.

The talented batsman now holds the fourth position in the list of highest run-getters for CSK in the IPL, behind the likes of Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, and Faf Du Plessis. Gaikwad has also achieved the distinction of being the fastest Indian player to reach the 2,000-run milestone, doing so in just 57 innings.

In his finest season with CSK in 2021, Gaikwad scored 635 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26, winning the ‘Orange Cap’ for most runs and helping his team secure their fifth IPL title.

This season, Gaikwad has continued his impressive form, scoring 224 runs in six matches at an average of 44.80 and a strike rate of over 130, with two half-centuries to his name. His best score of 69 has made him the seventh-highest run-getter this season.

In the match against MI, Gaikwad played a crucial role in helping CSK post a competitive total of 206/4 in 20 overs, with a blistering partnership with Shivam Dube. Despite MI’s efforts, including a strong performance from Hardik Pandya with the ball, CSK emerged victorious.

Gaikwad’s milestone achievement and consistent performances make him a key player to watch out for as the IPL season progresses.