Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022: Top 5 performances in group stage

4. Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Kerela (114 runs off 68 balls)

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been a run machine for Maharashtra at the domestic T20 tournament. The 25-year-old has amassed 295 runs in six games at a strike rate of 146.76 including two blistering centuries. One of those tons came in a match against Kerela on October 18.

On a pitch where other batters found it tough to get going, Gaikwad kept the scoreboard moving with timely boundaries. When it came to the fag end of the innings, the Maharashtra skipper put the bowlers under the pump with his swashbuckling strokeplay and ended up scoring 114 runs off 68 deliveries including seven majestic sixes.

Riding on Chennai Super Kings batter’s century, Maharashtra posted a competitive score of 167 for 4. In response, Kerala could only manage 127 at the loss of eight wickets, and the Gaikwad-led side won the game by 40 runs. However, the ace-batter's sensational run with the bat did not prove to be enough for his team to qualify for the knockout stages.