The Delhi track today looked very dry. Looks though turned out to be deceiving as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway put on another masterclass up the order, to take them to a score well above par, allowing CSK to seal a playoff spot.

Coming to Ruturaj Gaikwad. When he started off in the IPL he looked like a batter with a really good technique, and one who could nail the anchor role From 2020-2022 that is how he went as well, going at a steady pace in the powerplay before swiftly speeding up, while allowing batters around him to go hard. He used to find runs through gaps, and would smoothly find boundaries to push his strike rate up as he silently made his way to good scores.

This season though, from game one, Ruturaj Gaikwad has shelved his approach of starting slow. With openers evolving and with the impact rule deepening batting line-ups, Ruturaj Gaikwad has come in and taken bowlers on with freedom unlike before. He has 28 sixes this season, which is his highest tally in an IPL season so far.

His new style of play worked even better at Chepauk, which requires batters to go hard up front. With the track likely to slow down, batting against the new ball is generally the easiest for batters, and Ruturaj Gaikwad has adapted strongly, with a strike-rate past 150 in the powerplay at Chepauk this season.

While the impact rule is a factor, another factor behind Gaikwad’s increased aggression could be due to the presence of Devon Conway. Devon Conway has been a consistent force at the other end, getting CSK off to a steady start, and building strong platforms. He too does not race off the blocks and has run really well between the wickets, which has helped build a strong understanding between the pair, who love to rotate strikes.

Gaikwad’s ability against spin is another aspect that has helped. He has improved over the last couple of years against spin and his approach against Axar Patel today was a clear indicator of how he has approached spin through this season. He took the bowlers on in the powerplay and was not at all hesitant against the short balls as well.

After the powerplay though, against Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, his growth was evident. He raced away in between overs 6-10, lofting Axar Patel with ease and later struck three in a row against Kuldeep Yadav to get the Chennai Super Kings roaring to a strong position.

From starting off as a touch player, Ruturaj Gaikwad is showing that T20 Cricket has a place for players like him who can time the ball without having to rely on brute force. From being snapped for a base price of 20 lakhs, Ruturaj Gaikwad is turning out to be a pretty good investment and the Chennai Super Kings will be hoping he continues as a new household name in Chennai develops in a city which is known for adopting some spectacular stars.