Gaikwad’s magnificent innings showcased his class and determination as he led from the front, guiding his team to a massive 210/4 against Lucknow Super Giants.
The right-handed Gaikwad got to his second IPL century off 56 and remained unbeaten on 108 laced with 12 fours and three sixes.
The century not only highlighted Gaikwad’s exceptional batting prowess but also underscored his growing stature within the team.
His milestone achievement resonated with fans and pundits alike, solidifying his position as a key player for the CSK and further elevating his reputation as one of the brightest talents in the IPL circuit.
Gaikwad and Dube (66, 27b, 3×4, 7×6) added 104 runs for an entertaining fourth-wicket stand that gave steam to Super Kings innings after a rather subdued Power Play (49/2) and the middle passage.
The batting in this iteration of the IPL has been all about scorching the ball far and wide but Gaikwad took a classic route, timing the ball through the gaps for fours.
In fact, his first fifty contained no sixes but still he managed to maintain a strike-rate of above 180 during that phase.
The fifty, the right-hander’s 17th in the IPL, came off just 28 balls. The most spectacular shot that Gaikwad played on the night was a slice-cut off pacer Mohsin Khan that beat the point fielder for a boundary.