'Sight to behold' - Twitter elated as Ruturaj Gaikwad flaunts class with gritty 99 against SRH

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad roared back to form as he played a blistering knock of 99 runs in just 57 balls. As a result, CSK managed to post a huge total of 202 in their allotted 20 overs during a group stage match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) being played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, Pune on May 1 (Sunday)

SRH skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first. However, his decision backfired as CSK openers Gaikwad and the Kiwi batter Devon Conway went berserk in their innings. While Gaikwad was the aggressor between the two batters, the duo kept hitting boundaries in almost every over during the first inning.

The 25-year-old Gaikwad started cautiously. However, as soon as he got settled, the right-handed batter took on the SRH bowlers. Pacers T Natarajan, Marco Jansen, and Umran Malik, all of them were punished by Gaikwad as kept they kept bowling short-length deliveries to Gaikwad and he responded to them with some delightful strokes.

Ruturaj Gaikwad fell just one run short of his hundred

The right-handed batter completed his half-century during the tenth over of the match after he stroked a four on the bowling of express pacer Malik. However, he did not stop after that and continued to thrash the SRH bowlers. However, in heartbreak for him and CSK fans, the right-handed batter was scalped just one run short of what could have been a well-deserving hundred. He was caught at backward point as he was trying to dab a ball by Natarajan at the point region for a single.

It may be noted that after having a poor start in the tournament, CSK opener Gaikwad managed to score some runs in the past two matches as well. The right-handed batter scored 30 runs against PBKS and played a knock of 73 runs against the Titans and now he has backed up his previous performances after scoring a brilliant 99 against the strong bowling line-up of the Orange Army.

Meanwhile, here are some Twitter reactions

OH NO…..😩😭Gaikwad…..but what an innings!! 😍 #CSKvSRH #IPL2022

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 1, 2022

So much to like about RG. Plays express pace like most do against medium pace. He will get there in time. No Doubts. Classy stuff tonite @Ruutu1331 @ChennaiIPL @IPL #SRHvsCSK #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/M4EQR9vEg6

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 1, 2022

Csk 💛 well played #Ruturaj top knock 👏👏👏💛😊 @ChennaiIPL

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) May 1, 2022

Amazing that a change in the opening partnerships….back to the formula of 1 International & 1 Indian has allowed them to smash their previous opening partnership. MS Dhoni inspired? 🤷🏽‍♀️ #CSK𓃬 #IPL2022

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 1, 2022

Ruturaj Gaekwad in this form is such a sight to behold …

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 1, 2022

Pune born Ruturaj Gaikwad playing at his home ground on Maharashtra Day 😉 #CSKvSRH #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/eNTNAQhp8L

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 1, 2022

A pat on the back from Kane Williamson for Ruturaj Gaijwad👏

📸: Disney+Hotstar pic.twitter.com/drLDMlgUKf

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 1, 2022

Ruturaj Gaikwad scores a brilliant 99. Hard luck missing out on a well deserved ton. CSK look a different team tonight. Expecting SRH to give CSK a tough fight in the run chase

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) May 1, 2022

CSK's opening stands in IPL2022 before tonight – 101 in 8 matches (all put together)

Tonight – 117*#SRHvCSK #CSKvSRH #IPL2022

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) May 1, 2022