CSK vs MI: “Feels good to bat till the end” – Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad after match-winning knock

Ruturaj Gaikwad (PC: CSK/Instagram)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad led from the front with a match-winning 67-run knock to guide his side to a dominant eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their second meeting of IPL 2026 in Chennai on 2 May.

While chasing 160, Chennai lost their in-form opener, Sanju Samson (11), early. Gaikwad then took responsibility and scored a composed 67 off 48 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes, at a strike rate of 139.58. He stitched a crucial unbeaten 98-run stand with young batter Kartik Sharma (54*) to finish the game in 18.1 overs.

During the post-match presentation, Player of the Match Gaikwad reflected on his team’s performance and mindset for the game. “We started well, then they got momentum,” he said. “We pulled it back after the powerplay and were chasing 20–30 runs fewer. It was about getting a good start and then one of the batters had to go deep.”

He also spoke about the team combination and the role of young players. “He (Kamboj) keeps it simple. He understands how the pitch plays; he thinks like a batter. Noor needed momentum and wickets like this—he comes into play. He’s made adjustments and is doing well. We thought about how to get the balance right, get the batter at No. 8 and the extra bowler if needed. Veer does that role well. Both youngsters (Veer and Kartik) are doing well, so we gave them a chance,” the captain said.

The knock came at a crucial time for Gaikwad, who had been struggling for momentum. With his second consecutive fifty-plus score, he now has 245 runs from nine matches at an average of 35.

Gaikwad further opened up about his own mindset and the team’s approach. “Feels good to bat till the end. I was always feeling confident. But in T20s you can hit good shots straight to fielders… I wanted to make sure I took the team to the end if I got a start. Confidence booster for Kartik. (Urvil) is a six-hitter but doesn’t slog wildly. He picks and chooses his bowlers and deliveries. Coming in at No. 4, he gives balance. He plays well against pacers and spinners. Once he gets going, he’ll give a lot more in the coming years.”

He added, “Have to keep it simple. Mistakes will happen, but we have to give everything for the jersey and the fans.”

With this win, Chennai have now moved to sixth in the points table, with four wins from nine matches. They will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) on 5 May in Delhi.

Also Read: Nandani Sharma Earns Maiden Call-Up as India Announce Squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

For latest sports updates: Follow RevSportz

The post CSK vs MI: “Feels good to bat till the end” – Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad after match-winning knock appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consistent Nicholas Pooran can be world’s top T20 batter

Image
Nicholas Pooran’s carnage against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Image: IPL He has always had a calmness about him. A very West Indian relaxed kind of mindset and demeanour. And having seen adversity, he knows that one needs to celebrate and value the good that comes your way. The urge to keep getting better, and be the best version of oneself, is what defines the new Nicholas Pooran. That’s what came through in the candid conversations we had on the IPL and his own approach to batting. Not overawed by the 21-crore price tag or the weight of expectations, Pooran is simply going about his job. He knows he can hit the ball miles and is keeping it simple. Go and do what you do best for hours and hours at practice, and in doing so, help your team Lucknow Super Giants] demolish opponents. “The best part about this franchise is they have never put me under pressure,” he told me. “When you are paid a lot of money, there is always pressure. Not so much from outside but from within. You know you ne...
Read more

Turning the clock back by 0.12 seconds

Image
MS Dhoni with a stumping dismissal against MI in the IPL 2025 in Chennai (PC: BCCI) The moment of the Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians match lasted less than half a second. It was the 11 th over of the MI innings. Suryakumar Yadav was bringing the batting side back in the game. Noor Ahmad beat him on a forward charge, the ball spun away, and the right-hander’s hind leg got off the ground before he planted it back. That was all MS Dhoni needed to brush the bails off. At a packed MA Chidambaram Stadium decked in yellow and chanting his name, that was the only occasion when Dhoni was in ‘action’. It showed that at 43, his reflexes have not slackened and he has got sharper in plotting dismissals. This one was replayed on TV again and again during the match and commentators couldn’t help but keep talking about it. He had conceded four byes on the leg side in the same over. But this was the Dhoni who elevated stumping to another level. When it comes to waiting for batters to err wit...
Read more

From scoring ton in Patna to taking on bouncers like a ‘bullet’ in Perth – Nitish’s story of perseverance

Image
Nitish Kumar Reddy during the 1st innings of the Perth Test (PC: Debasis Sen) “Grateful, an innings to remember.” Nitish Reddy had posted the aforesaid statement on his Instagram account after cracking his maiden first-class hundred, against Bihar, in Patna. It wasn’t just about Nitish scoring an unbeaten 159 for Andhra. It was also about the way he scored those runs. He essayed a few crunchy drives off Veer Pratap Singh and also showcased his range of shots against Ashutosh Aman, the left-arm spinner, by playing with the turn and also against the turn. This hundred from Nitish came just before the 2024 IPL season, where he accumulated 303 runs. Once again, it wasn’t just about Nitish accruing 303 runs as he accumulated them with a touch of class. Soon, the Indian think-tank drafted the all-rounder into the limited-overs set-up. Although he missed the Zimbabwe series because of a hernia problem, it was crystal clear that the coaching staff had a vision – to pick him for the tour o...
Read more