The star CSK opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has stunned everyone with his amazing half-century in the ongoing first qualifier of IPL 2023 against the defending champions Gujarat Titans. The interesting fact behind this half-century smashed by Ruturaj is that he got a chance only on the individual score of 2 runs when Darshan Nalkande was dismissed but it happened to be a no-ball.
The blistering right-hander made that no-ball count in all terms for his team in this all-important clash of the tournament. Later on, Gaikwad went on to score 60 runs with seven boundaries and a six to his name before falling prey to senior GT pacer Mohit Sharma on the team’s total score of 87 runs in the 11th over of the first innings.
Subsequently, the fans also came up with a lot of hilarious reactions after Ruturaj brilliantly utilized the no-ball dismissal and a life given to him only on the individual score of 2 runs. Some of the fans also trolled the GT bowler for making a mistake in such kind of all-important clash for the defending champions.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring a fifty after getting saved by a no ball on 2 runs pic.twitter.com/aWubhjBJhz
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 23, 2023
rutu make this no ball count bro!😭 pic.twitter.com/rR2gmF5SiD
— 𓄼𓄹 (@thegoat_msd_) May 23, 2023
Hardik to Nalkande after that no ball to Gaikwad 💀#CSKvsGT pic.twitter.com/Vo7sXSmA4f
— Ankit (@revengeseeker77) May 23, 2023
Rutu haters: stop the tweets, that's no ball pic.twitter.com/F7aI2zp7KX
— ɯlsɐ (@pitchinginline) May 23, 2023
Darshan Nalkande removes Ruturaj Gaikwad but it's a NO BALL! 🔴
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) May 23, 2023
How costly will it be?#IPL2023 #GTvCSK pic.twitter.com/sN2bFEXnsW
Cost Of A No Ball - 60(44)
— Watcher (@Darling_abhiiii) May 23, 2023
RutuRAJ Owns GT 🦁💛💥#GTvCSK @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/VN40dU3fSR
one thing good with us, we haven't bowled a no ball ever since thala gave that 'play under a new capt' speech. insane
— s (@thisisntsxi) May 23, 2023
Never has this no ball siren given me this much relief😭
— Snap (@ObsessionSnap) May 23, 2023
Darshan Nalkande bowls a no ball to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
— Shimlamirch (@sociallypooja) May 23, 2023
Hardik Pandya to Nalkande for missing wicket of Gaikwad.#CSKvsGT pic.twitter.com/iNgVtRUfPH
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 60 off 44 deliveries before getting out tonight. No Ball costed too much to Gujarat Titans #GTvCSK pic.twitter.com/j68NSnMy3s
— Cricket Winner (@cricketwinner_) May 23, 2023
Imagine if that was not a no ball in the 2nd over, imagine our condition at the moment 🤯🤯🤯#GTvCSK
— Karthikeyan Ganesan (@Karthik00161891) May 23, 2023
Speaking of the ongoing action of the match between CSK and GT, the latter’s skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first. Batting first, the yellow outfits have posted a score of 131 runs for the loss of four wickets in 16 overs so far. At the time of filling this copy, Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja were there in the middle on the individual scores of 6 and 4 runs respectively.
Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Noor Ahmed, and Mohit Sharma have scalped one wicket each for GT in the first innings of the match.
Notably, the winner of this match will qualify directly for the final of the current season of the tournament. On the other hand, the losing side will get another chance as they will face the winning team of the eliminator in the second qualifier to confirm their slot in the summit clash of the 16th edition of the tournament.