'Chakko se kam baat ni kar raha tha'- Ruturaj Gaikwad lights up opening night of Indian T20 League with blistering knock of 92

The first game of the 2023 edition of the Indian T20 League got off to a rollicking start thanks to the efforts of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Opening the batting for Chennai against defending champions Gujarat, Gaikwad smashed 92 off just 50 balls to help his side to a respectable total of 178/7 in the first innings.

Gaikwad's knock made the pitch look much easier to bat on than it was. After his 92, the next highest score was Moeen Ali's 23, highlighting his teammates' struggles.

Gaikwad looked fluent right from the start of the innings, timing the ball sweetly even as his fellow batters struggled on the Ahmedabad pitch. Despite losing Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, and Ben Stokes without many runs on the board, Gaikwad continued playing his strokes and brought up his half-century off just 23 balls in the ninth over.

He did not let up after passing that milestone, regularly clearing the ropes with some monster hits. By the time he was dismissed in the 18th over, he had raced to 92 off just 50 balls. The 2021 Orange Cap holder smashed four fours and nine sixes in his knock and was given a warm reception from the crowd as he walked off, disappointed to miss out on three figures.

The Maharashtra batter, who had made his way into the Indian national side on the back of his impressive performance in the T20 league, definitely made a strong case for a return to the international stage with this knock.

Here's how fans reacted to Gaikwad's knock:

pic.twitter.com/uC8FUyRmPx

— Cricket With Laresh (@Lareshhere) March 31, 2023

well played 🏏📈👏 pic.twitter.com/yJpfJU8AI0

— CricStox (@CricStox) March 31, 2023

One man carrying the entire batting lineup. Good sign for rutu not for CSK

— Philips (@vasanthsk2) March 31, 2023

He is better than Overrated Gill

Rutu>>>gill

— Nani fan of Dhoni (@nani71224) March 31, 2023

thansk to dube for ruining a wonderful century🥲

— Vikram (@Abhimanyu86156) March 31, 2023

Excellent innings & also good catch

— Mr Wrong (@wrong_huihui) March 31, 2023

A fantastic knock by Rutu.

— Santosh (@SmpPhukan) March 31, 2023

He's middling almost 98 percent of balls..🔥🔥🔥🔥

— Magudeeswaran.n (@magudeeswaran_n) March 31, 2023

छक्कों से कम में बात ही नहीं कर रहा लौंडा 🔥💛🥳

— Prashant (@aham_pk_asmi) March 31, 2023

Missed a well deserved 100 😢

— K 🇮🇳 (@VK18addict_) March 31, 2023

dhdd