Ruturaj Gaikwad, captain of Chennai Super Kings (PTI Image)
Ruturaj Gaikwad spoke about the entire team’s performance after he led Chennai Super Kings to a crushing eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, a result that kept their playoff hopes alive.Named man of the match for his unbeaten 67, Gaikwad highlighted how CSK managed to regain control after a short phase of pressure.
“I feel good,” he said, referring to the bowlers’ ability to respond under pressure. We started really well, the first couple of rounds, they got momentum after that and we pulled it back.
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MI raced to 57 for 1 in the powerplay, but CSK, led by the attack
Nour Ahmed
(2/26) and Anshul Kamboj (3/32), tighten the bolts in the middle links. Gaikwad was particularly pleased with Kamboj’s style, saying: “He is someone who keeps it very simple, sticks to the process and whose mind thinks like a striker’s mind.”
He also noted Nour’s improvement, adding that the spinner “made some adjustments and it’s working really well.”Chasing 160, CSK lost
Sanju Samson
early to
Jasprit Bumrah
But Gaikwad stressed the importance of batting deep for one of the top three. “It was a matter of getting through the first two rounds and then it was a matter of staying in the top three there,” he explained.He anchored the innings alongside Kartik Sharma, who impressed with an unbeaten 54.
Heaping praise on the youngster, Gaikwad said, “A good confidence booster for him and for us as well. Yes, he is a six-hitter but he has the other game as well, but he picks and chooses certain passes.”Gaikwad also shed light on the team selection decisions, explaining the balance that CSK seeks by selecting all-rounders. “We thought about how to get the right balance, how to get the batsman at eight and the extra bowler. Veer and Ghosh are people who can contribute to both.”He remained quiet as he contemplated his appearance. “As I always say, I was feeling good, feeling confident, but it’s T20 cricket. I was in a good frame of mind and it was just a matter of time.”With the win, CSK remains firmly in the playoff race and Gaikwad emphasized the team’s simple approach moving forward: “Mistakes will happen but we have to make sure we come back strong, give everything for the jersey and the fans.”