Yuvraj Singh’s name crossed my mind after fifth six: Ruturaj Gaikwad

Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has opened up on his feat of smashing seven sixes in an over in the second quarter-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022 against Uttar Pradesh in Ahmedabad. Admitting that he remembered Yuvraj Singh, who had slammed six sixes in an over against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup, he added that he was elated to have his name placed alongside the legend.

Gaikwad created history on Monday, November 28, becoming the first batter to hit seven sixes in an over in a List A match. Uttar Pradesh fielded first after winning the toss, but the decision backfired as the Maharashtra captain displayed incredible form. In the penultimate over, he took on left-arm spinner Shiva Singh and dispatched him over the ropes seven times, with one of the sixes coming off a no-ball. In a video posted on bcci.tv, the right-handed batter revisited his spectacular feat. Asked what was going through his mind before he struck the sixth six, Gaikwad revealed:

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“After the 5th six, only one person crossed my mind, that was Yuvraj Singh” – Ruturaj Gaikwad

“To be honest, after the fifth six, only one person crossed my mind, that was Yuvraj Singh. I had seen him hit six sixes in an over when I was really young back then in the World Cup. I wanted to be alongside him. That’s why I wanted to go for the sixth one. And when I hit it, obviously I was very happy.

“I never thought in any dream that I would be hitting six sixes in an over. It’s a great pleasure and a great feeling to be alongside his name (Yuvraj’s) and match that hype which is there around six sixes or seven sixes in an over.”

Gaikwad achieved the feat in the 49th over of the Maharashtra innings. The bowler conceded a no ball in the fifth delivery of the over which was also smashed over the boundary ropes at the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground in Ahmedabad.

“When I got the sixth one, I thought why not go for the seventh one. I think it was not about hitting six sixes or seven sixes, it was just about trying to maximize that over, make as many runs as possible for the team. That was the basic plan, and thankfully, it happened,” Gaikwad said. Gaikwad first grabbed the limelight in 2021. When he made a staggering 635 runs for IPL title winners Chennai Super Kings. “I would like to give it (credit) to all my teammates, my family members, people in Maharashtra. To be honest, there is pressure in each and every game I play and obviously. When I know that we have lost two wickets and we also lost another one in the process. I had to take responsibility right till the end.