MPL 2023: Ruturaj Gaikwad’s blazing 27-ball 64 demolishes Kolhapur Tuskers in opening match

Courtesy of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s blitzkrieg, Puneri Bappa comprehensively beat Kolhapur Tuskers by eight wickets in the opening match of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL) at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday, June 15.

Opting to bowl first, the Pune-based franchise restricted Kolhapur to 144 as Ankit Bawne top-scored for the side with 72 off 57, featuring five fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, Sachin Bhosale and Piyush Salvi sliced through the top and middle-order to claim six wickets between them.

In reply, Gaikwad’s lethal hitting display was on full show as he took the rival bowling unit to the cleaners with his aggressive batting. Maintaining his purple patch from the recently concluded IPL 2023, Gaikwad slammed a 22-ball fifty and raised a 110-run partnership with Pavan Shah to keep Pune in a commanding position. 

The flamboyant right-hander whipped as many as five maximums with ease and got five boundaries in his quick fire 27-ball 64, at a blazing strike rate of 237.04. However, his stunning knock drew to a conclusion after Shreyash Chavan sent him packing as he holed out to Bawne.

Meanwhile, Pavan too registered his half-century and concluded with 57 off 48 balls, cracking six boundaries and a solitary maximum Suraj Shinde and Yash Kshirsagar steered Puneri Bappa to a comfortable eight-wicket win in a mere 14.1 overs  in the first match of the competition.

Gaikwad was adjudged Player of the match for his brilliant innings. It is worth mentioning that the batter relished a decent season in the IPL 2023 as he accumulated 590 runs at a solid average of 42.14 in 16 appearances for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with four half-centuries. Puneri Bappa play their next fixture against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Kings on Sunday, June 18.