One could see it: Ruturaj Gaikwad was running out of energy after batting for nearly 20 overs in the energy-sapping conditions at Chepauk on Sunday. He was gasping for breath on his haunches, barely able to stand on his two feet, let alone bat, towards the end of the CSK innings. A tired shot in the final over resulted in Ruutraj perishing for 98 runs, but not before taking his team to a competitive total against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The entire CSK dugout was on its feet, saluting what was truly a masterclass from Ruturaj. It was not just about the number of runs he scored, but the way he weathered the challenging Chepauk heat was commendable. Do not forget that he also batted for the complete 20 overs against the Lucknow Super Giants at the same venue and then captained the side for the entire duration.
“These conditions are too hot and humid. Last game I was out fielding for 20 overs and 19 overs today. I was never even thinking about the hundred. I was just trying to make sure we get to 220 or whatever extra runs possible. Even in the last game I wasn’t thinking about the hundred. I was upset I missed a few shots,” Ruturaj said at the end of the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad
Why batting at Chepauk is a challenge?
The hot and humid conditions made life tough for Ruturaj, but he managed to weather the storm thanks to his supreme fitness levels. What makes batting so tough in Chennai is not the pitch, but first the heat, and then losing out on energy makes it extremely tough for batters to bat for longer periods. Being a coastal city adds more humidity to the air, and thus the batters lose out on energy while batting for longer periods.
Ruturaj, being only 27, was able to recover well in time, potentially filling in a lot of fluids inside his system, and keeping himself hydrated helped him quite a lot. Chennai Super Kings have entered a new era, with Ruturaj leading the side post-MS Dhoni. He is also leading them from the front, having scored 447 runs in nine matches, and is in the race to win the Orange Cap for the second time in his career.
He has taken over the CSK baton from MS Dhoni and is now making a statement both with the bat and his fitness levels. Ruturaj is raising the bar for the rest, and if Chennai needs to do well and defend its IPL crown, they will need every ounce of sweat and blood from their captain to emerge victorious for the record sixth time.
