Sanju Samson’s century added some life to the struggling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by scoring a century against the Delhi Capitals in Chepauk. With Sanju’s unbeaten hundred-plus run, CSK registered their first win of the ongoing season.
Last night, while Sanju Samson was hammering the Delhi Capitals bowlers from the beginning of the first innings, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad played an unusual knock with a strike rate below 100. Cricket experts heavily criticised the skipper’s slow batting style.
Wasim Jaffer criticized Ruturaj Gaikwad’s slow-paced batting style
Former Team India opener Wasim Jaffer suggested that Ruturaj Gaikwad not think about the volume of runs, but focus on the impact, as modern-day cricket teams often look for batters who can make an impact with their batting.
While talking on ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer observed that Ruturaj Gaikwad might have held himself back from smashing big hits or taking risks as an opener. The experienced batter might have the intention to play long-standing knocks. The former batter asked Gaikwad to take more risks.
Jaffer explains Gaikwad’s batting style
“He’s somebody who wants to score big. You know, being an opener, I don’t think you need to look at 80 or 100 from the outset. I think you need to look at giving a terrific start, the kind of start the openers want”, Wasim Jaffer said.
“He’s not somebody who is going at a 200-plus strike rate. If he’s asked to push the scoring rate, I think he needs to take a lot more risk. He’s got the game. He’s got hundreds in the IPL. But he just, I feel, holds himself [back],” the 48-year-old former cricketer said.
He’s a different Kohli from what we saw at the start of his career – Wasim Jaffer
Jaffer compared Ruturaj Gaikwad’s slump with Virat Kohli’s early days. Jaffer stated that Kohli has changed his batting style to play with more impact rather than playing long-standing knocks with less intensity.
“I feel he plays with that tunnel vision of scoring big. We’ve seen [Virat] Kohli do that: change his game. He’s a different Kohli from what we saw at the start of his career. I am sure Ruturaj can do it [but] he needs to put the impact [first], not think about the bulk of runs, Jaffer added.
Aaron Finch also expressed disappointment, seeing Ruturaj Gaikwad’s slow batting
Playing 18 balls, Gaikwad scored only 15 before losing his wicket to Axar Patel. Former Australia opener Aaron Finch explained that neither Gaikwad has been playing an anchor role properly nor playing an impactful knock for the Chennai Super Kings this season.
“It’s okay to have a player like that on your side, like Shubman Gill, if he’s batting with somebody who is a bit of a cowboy at the other end, somebody who’s striking at 200-plus. If he goes on to get 60s and 70s and sets up the middle order or bats with a middle order where he can control, if need be, he gets off strike and gets somebody on strike who can really take them on… But he’s doing neither. He’s not getting off to a flyer and he’s not getting big enough scores to have a significant impact on games,” Aaron Finch explained.
Read More: ‘The way he led…’: Sanju Samson drops colossal statement on Ruturaj Gaikwad’s captaincy
