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

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.

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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.

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“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.