'Ball was turning, there was swing' - Ruturaj Gaikwad feels IPL 2022 pitches were bowler-friendly

India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad reckons that the pitches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year were bowler-friendly because there was not much flatness in them, but it rather assisted turn and some swing. Gaikwad played in all the matches of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2022 season and was their leading run-scorer.

Gaikwad believes he was dismissed for good deliveries in a few games where the balls went straight into the fielders’ hands. However, the 25-year-old feels that it is all part of a T20 game, as there will be “off days”, adding that it is all about staying consistent mentally. Gaikwad scored 368 runs in 14 innings with a top score of 99 and an average of 26.28.

It is just a matter of trusting your process: Ruturaj Gaikwad

“I think in the IPL in 2-3 games I got out to good balls where some dismissals you know good shots went into the fielder’s hand,” said Gaikwad. “I think that is part of T20 cricket, you won’t have your days every day, you will have off days. It is just a matter of staying consistent mentally and trusting your process,” said the CSK batter in a press conference.

Gaikwad made his IPL debut in 2020 and has proved to be one of the best signings CSK has made ever since. He scored 204 runs in six matches at an average of 51 in his debut season, and he now has 1,207 runs in 36 matches at an average of 37.72 with a top score of 101*. Speaking about IPL 2022, the opener said-

“In the IPL, the wickets were slightly I would say, bowler-friendly because there was not much, I would say flat wicket, two-paced wickets, the ball was turning, there was some swing and all.”

Gaikwad, in the absence of senior players such as KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, is on national duty for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, and also scored his first international fifty on June 14 (Tuesday) in Vizag in a 48-run victory for India.