IPL Final: "Pre-Season Camp Key To Our Success" - Ruturaj Gaikwad

Published - 24 May 2023, 04:37 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Ruturaj Gaikwad Image: Wikipedia

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the team’s opening batsman, has credited Chennai Super Kings’ success in the current IPL to their preseason camp and lauded the organization for giving the players a sense of security and outlining their responsibilities.

CSK, the four-time IPL champions, raced into the final with a 15-run victory against holders Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 here on Tuesday.

Several CSK players, including Ruturaj Gaikwad, have never played an IPL game in Chennai before this season. The camp had commenced on March 3, with captain MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane, and Ambati Rayudu among the first players to arrive in the city. Gaikwad and speed spearhead Deepak Chahar then returned to the team after finishing their recovery at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.

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“[The camp was] very vital because a new surface was being laid over in Chennai, Everyone was not sure how the wicket is going to be or how the wicket is going to play.

“But sometimes when you play on flat tracks, you need not have to think much about your shots and not much about the [opposition] bowling. Sometimes batsmen play good shots and hats off to him. Even while you’re batting, it’s about getting into the zone,” Ruturaj Gaikwad said at the press conference.

“But in Chennai, it’s slightly different. You have to alter your game according to the pitch that is given that day. Sometimes, it’s slower and sometimes it’s good [for batting].

“So, I think it was good to have an idea about how it was going to play. It definitely helped me a lot personally and everyone who was there in the camp. Tushar Deshpande was there from the first day and also someone like Rajvardhan Hangargekar and all the youngsters were also there from the first day, so I think it helped,” Ruturaj Gaikwad added.

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“I think right from the first game everyone knew about their roles” – Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the starting batter, praised the CSK team management for providing their players with employment stability and position clarity.

Maheesh Theekshana, a mysterious spinner from Sri Lanka, had only taken one wicket in six games at Chepauk before the first qualifier, but he managed to double that total when CSK was under duress. Theekshana helped CSK defend 172 on Tuesday by getting crucial wickets of Titans skipper Hardik Pandya and finisher Rahul Tewatia.

“A lot of effort [goes into our success],” Gaikwad said. “[It] started from last year when we didn’t qualify [for playoffs]. Obviously, the management got something to work on and there were things that we needed to improve and put an effort into, or add someone.

“This year, right from the first game, I think we were clinical and sure about who is going to play and who is not going to play and what will be our probable XII or XIII or XIV,” Ruturaj Gaikwad said at the press conference.

“I think right from the first game everyone knew about their roles. When the Sri Lankans came [late] – Theekshana and [Matheesha] Pathirana – I think they were up to the mark even from the first game.

“So, I think we were pretty much playing with the same team and just continued the momentum. And hats off to everyone – the support staff and the management as well” Ruturaj Gaikwad added.

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The Super Kings also won their first game against the Titans. On March 31, the teams played off in the IPL 2023 opening in Ahmedabad, with the home team prevailing by five wickets. CSK has four championships but has lost five IPL finals: once to the Kolkata Knight Riders, once to the Rajasthan Royals, and three times to the Mumbai Indians.