'Winning the game is important' - Ruturaj Gaikwad not distressed about getting out on 99

Ruturaj Gaikwad played a mighty fine knock on Sunday (May 1) that took Chennai Super Kings to a much-needed 13-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. The dashing opener, who had been short of runs lately, tackled SRH bowlers with precision and scored runs all over the MCA Stadium in Pune. He even looked set to slam his second Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 but fell prey to T Natarajan for 99.

While Gaikwad was evidently upset after missing out on a hundred, he was happy with the overall result. Following the conclusion of the game, Gaikwad said he was happy to deliver in front of his home crowd and make his family proud. While he admitted being disappointed after missing out on the three-figure mark, the 25-year-old made it clear that winning the game for the team is more important.

Getting out on 99 made me a little sad: Ruturaj Gaikwad

“Getting out on 99 made me a little sad, but I was happy that I was able to gain momentum and take the pressure off Devon (Conway). Whether it’s 99 or 100, winning the game is important,” Gaikwad said after the match in an interview with fast bowler Mukesh Choudhary.

“It’s always special to score big at your home ground, but more importantly, I’m happy because I contributed towards the team’s win. There was no pressure of performing in front of family and friends, but I wanted to make them proud. Doing well in front of them is a big achievement. I was waiting for the moment and, thankfully, I did well,” asserted Ruturaj.

Meanwhile, Gaikwad shared a 182-run opening stand with Devon Conway, who was playing his first game after a break. The Pune-born batter lauded the New Zealander for embracing the challenge and scoring his maiden IPL half-century.

“I enjoyed batting with Devon. I am delighted for him as it was only his second match and he scored his maiden IPL fifty. We haven’t played together much, but we spend a lot of time in my room. Hence, we got to know about each other’s game, how we communicate and how we react to certain situations on the field,” he stated.

See the Full Details of Yesterday IPL match Result