Staying hydrated is key to making crucial decisions on the field: CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai, 12th April 2024: Staying hydrated is a key element of unleashing peak performance for a world-class athlete, according to newly-minted Chennai Super Kings Indian Premier League captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. The 27-year-old took over as the captain of the Chennai Super Kings, succeeding the club legend MS Dhoni at the start of the latest season. The team has made a resounding start to their title defense under Gaikwad’s leadership this season and sits atop the league tables, having won both matches they have played so far.

The highly-rated Gaikwad’s rise to the CSK captaincy has been earned on the back of consistently strong performances. Like all athletes, Gaikwad has had to work on numerous aspects to perform at such a consistently high level. These include physical fitness, mental resilience, nutrition, and even hydration.

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Hydration essential for making those make-or-break calls: Ruturaj Gaikwad

“I’m often asked what the key to success on the field is, and I can’t emphasise the role of hydration enough,” said Gaikwad, who is an ambassador for Amrutanjan Healthcare’s Electro+. 

“Everyone talks about fitness and nutrition and so on, but maintaining the right level of hydration and the optimum electrolyte balance aids everything from reaction time and post-match recovery to on-field mental acuity. In high-stakes matches, like the ones we play in the IPL, as captain, I often have to make decisions on the fly. For that, I need my mind to stay sharp. Hydration, therefore, I would say, is absolutely essential to making those make-or-break calls that can either win or lose you a game," he added.

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Cricket, and especially the fast-paced T20 format of the IPL, is a grueling sport. Coupled with the Indian subcontinent’s notoriously warm summers, the season in which the IPL is played, hydration becomes all the more important.