Duleep Trophy 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad gets injured, retires hurt in 1st over of the match

India C skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad retired hurt in the first over of the match between India B and India C at Ananthapur. His injury could be a big blow and it is unknown when he will be back on the field.

After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, Gaikwad decided to take the first strike himself to fast bowler Mukesh Kumar. He started brilliantly and smashed the first ball to the boundary.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad retires hurt in the first over

However, in the next ball itself, Ruturaj Gaikwad twisted his ankle and was forced to retire hurt. He was initially attended by the physio but decided not to risk his injury anymore and walked off the field.

It is yet not clear when Gaikwad will return back to the field. His extent of injury is also unknown. He looked fine at the toss alongside India B captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, who won the coin toss and elected to field first.

There are doubts over Gaikwad's availability for the rest of the contest as well. The 27-year-old scored 5 and 46 in the opening round Duleep Trophy match last week as India C thumped India D by 4 wickets.

Gaikwad has been on the selectors' radar for a long time now. However, the competition within India's set-up has ensured that he does not get his chances too often. But he is an extremely talented cricketer with a good head on his shoulders.

Ishan Kishan shines for India C

Despite Gaikwad's unfortunate departure, India B batters played well and are currently going towards a good first innings score. Rajat Patidar walked in at No. 3 after Ruturaj Gaikwad's injury. Both Sudharsan and Patidar were impressive and put the loose balls to the boundary.

However, both were dismissed in the forties and could not complete their half-centuries. Patidar was bowled by Navdeep Saini for 40 off 67 balls. Sai Sudharsan soon followed him as he was dismissed for 43 off 75 balls by Mukesh Kumar.

But since then, Ishan Kishan and Baba Indrajith stitched together a magnificent partnership to take India C towards a big score. Kishan was close to his hundred while Indrajith had completed his half-century.

Ruturaj Gaikwad's injuries

Ruturaj Gaikwad does not have a great record with injuries. He suffered a finger injury after receiving his maiden Test call-up against South Africa later last year. Unfortunately, he had to be substituted at the last time and Abhimanyu Easwaran was called in as his replacement.

Gaikwad has a fair amount of experience in international cricket, although he is yet to play Test cricket. He has played 6 ODIs and 23 T20Is so far. Although he does not have a great ODI record having averaged just 19.16. But he has scored 633 runs in T20I cricket at an average of 39.56 and a strike rate of 143.53. He has also struck a hundred in T20I format.