Four ducks? Prithvi Shaw flops? No problem! Ruturaj Gaikwad steps in as crisis man | Cricket News
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On a deceptively wet pitch at Greenfield Stadium, Ruturaj Gaikwad made a thunderous return to cricket, breaking the deafening silence of his 5-month injury-induced exile.Maharashtra No.4 rolled out a luckless 91, an innings of courage, grace and quiet defiance, as he entered a crisis – his team teetering at 0/2 – and batted like a man on a mission. Without the Gaikwad’s anchor, Maharashtra’s sails would have crumbled. When bad light stopped play on the first day, the visitors reached 179/7 in 59 overs after being put into bat by Kerala. The first exchanges were electric. The Kerala bowlers, licking their lips because of the humidity on the surface, made the red ball dance to the rhythm of their tunes. Seam, swing and threat – they threw it all at Gaikwad. But what they found was a hitter under monk-like control. Soft hands, late movements, high elbows, Gaikwad’s technique was a masterclass in balance with the red ball.It was not a shattering blow. It was built brick by brick: a press forward here, a start with conviction there, a practice coverage stroked like a painter’s brushstroke. His bat sang in fits and starts, but his concentration never wavered.At the other end, the ever-reliable Jalaj Saxena, who until a month ago donned the Kerala flannels, brought his usual stoicism, compiling a watchful 49. Their 122-run 6th-wicket partnership was a statement of intent, a counter-blow to Kerala’s early dominance, stitched with steel and intelligence.For Gaikwad, it wasn’t just a return to form, it was a return to purpose. Sidelined by an elbow injury in April while captaining Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, the 28-year-old missed key assignments including the India A tour against the England Lions and a stint with Yorkshire County. Kerala fast bowler MD Nidheesh, who went through Maharashtra’s opening order like a hot knife through butter, was all praise for Gaikwad and Saxena. “They overcame the tricky period before lunch. In the second session, the pitch had lost its dynamism and batting became much easier. Credit to them for batting the way they did,” Nidheesh said.For Gaikwad, the time on the sidelines gave him time to rewire and work on his red ball game.Although refused for a century, his sleeves had the feel of it. As the light faded on the outfield, it felt like the start of something new. It was a second wind for a hitter who knew patience had its own form of power.A day later, the Ranji season already has its first hero.Brief scores: Maharashtra 179/7 in 59 overs (R Gaikwad 91, J Saxena 49; MD Nidheesh 4/42) against Kerala.
