Ruturaj Gaikwad of Maharashtra is now in the news due to his outstanding performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. His 220-run innings against Uttar Pradesh in the tournament’s quarterfinal advanced Maharashtra to the semi-finals, where they will play Assam next. However, Gaikwad’s Maharashtrian teammate Azim Kazi has made an odd comparison between the player and former India captain MS Dhoni.
Gaikwad, who has been in and out of the Indian lineup, attracted selection committee attention once more after he accomplished the virtually unheard-of feat of hitting seven sixes in a row. Shiva Singh, a left-arm spinner, was pummelling for 43 runs in one over by Gaikwad, who used no-balls to send him over the ropes seven times.
Dhoni saw the team when Maharashtra played a game in Ranchi, and Kazi was astounded by how similar they looked. Gaikwad, in his opinion, has begun to display a number of traits that are reminiscent of Dhoni. Gaikwad’s cool demeanour and composure under pressure may have influenced Kazi’s assessment, but given that he has represented the Chennai Super Kings for the past few years under Dhoni, there may be some validity to it.
“Actually, when Dhoni bhai was speaking, it literally felt like it was Gaikwad. The things he said, was similar to what Rutu has been telling us. Since he has been part of CSK, he has been able to interact with Dhoni bhai and he is passing to us, but for sure there a few similarities. We all have read and heard how Dhoni bhai operates the team and that is what Gaikwad has been doing here,” Kazi told the Daily.
Gaikwad might soon succeed Dhoni as CSK’s captain and assume the captaincy. After the team’s attempt to select Ravindra Jadeja as the leader last year failed miserably, he may join other young captains like Shreyas Iyer and Hardik Pandya in emerging as the ideal candidate to lead CSK into the future.
“He has become our everything. We are getting to learn new things. He has changed the total set-up and how we prepare ourselves. We are together as a team even in the hotel. For instance, he has left his hotel room open at all times and we can go and seek his help for anything. If a player is struggling, he is the first one to point it out off the field and say how to rectify it. What is more impressive is his gameplan and how he has identified a role for everyone and uses us judiciously,” Kazi further added.