IPL 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad becomes first captain after MS Dhoni to slam an IPL fifty in 5 years

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Chennai, Apr 8: Ruturaj Gaikwad slammed his maiden fifty as Chennai Super Kings skipper and as his team returned to winning ways at MA Chidambaram Stadium in the IPL 2024 on Monday (April 8).

Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 67* off 58 deliveries in a low run chase of 138, which the home team overhauled in 17.4 overs for the loss of three wickets against Kolkata Knight Riders. Gaikwad, thus, became only the second captain to slam a ton for CSK in the IPL.

Ruturaj Gaikwad emulates MS Dhoni

The last time a fifty came from a CSK captain in an IPL game was back in 2019 when Dhoni scored an 84* off 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Dhoni's last half-century in the IPL came in the 2022 season but he didn't play that season as a full-time captain.

The Super Kings, who suffered back-to-back defeats in the last two away games, didn't just mark their return to winning form but also handed a high-flying KKR their first defeat. KKR won their first three games in a row before this game.

Gaikwad played an anchor's role in the chase, crafting an unbeaten half-century, and entered his name in the record books. While Shivam Dube's quickfire 28 off 18 balls further propelled CSK towards their third win of the season. This win positions the Yellow Army at number four in the points table after Sunrisers Hyderabad, KKR, and Lucknow Super Giants.

Opting to bowl first, CSK effectively contained the Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest total of 137 for 9. CSK's seasoned all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, emerged as a standout performer, claiming three crucial wickets for just 18 runs. He also was electrifying in the field and completed 100 catches in the IPL. The left-arm spinner was awarded the player of the match for his performance.

The CSK bowlers, including Tushar Deshpande who secured three wickets for 33 runs, and Mustafizur Rehman with two wickets for 22 runs, maintained consistent pressure on KKR's batting lineup, restricting their scoring opportunities.

Despite a commendable effort from Sunil Narine and skipper Shreyas Iyer, who scored 34 runs off 32 balls, KKR struggled to build substantial partnerships and fell short of posting a competitive total.

In the end, CSK comfortably chased down the target with Ruturaj Gaikwad leading from the front, securing a comprehensive victory for his team.