Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has urged Ruturaj Gaikwad to increase his scoring rate and also demote himself in the batting order after Chennai Super Kings registered a 23-run win against Delhi Capitals at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Saturday.
Gaikwad was dismissed after scoring 15 runs off 18 balls while opening the innings with Sanju Samson. Gaikwad has managed only 56 runs in four matches of the tournament at an average of 14 and a strike rate of 103.70.
Meanwhile, Ayush Mhatre scored a fine knock of 59 runs off 36 balls and Chopra said Sanju Samson and the former should open for CSK.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad, you will have to think. You are playing slower than a run-a-ball, and I have no idea whatsoever why you are doing that. You played three overs and scored 15 runs. It’s not right. His numbers as an opener are the worst. He is going at a run-a-ball,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Everybody is hitting except Rutu. So that’s a big query he needs to sort out. I feel there is a bit of a problem because he is playing slow and Ayush Mhatre is playing well. Make him open, and you come down the order. He scored very good runs before he was retired out,” he added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator also praised CSK opener Sanju Samson, who scored a stunning knock of 115 runs off just 56 balls with the help of 15 fours and four sixes.
“Sanju’s hundred needs to be spoken about because it’s his first for CSK. Whenever he scores a hundred, it’s the first hundred of that season as well. It’s happened for the fourth time. He came out really good. He was struggling in the first three matches, had single-digit scores,” he said.
Chopra praised Samson for timing the ball to perfection during his match-winning knock.
“However, this time he was timing the ball and not hitting it hard. The clarity of thought was visible, and he just kept smashing. There were two instances for sure when he slowed down, but it didn’t make a difference because he said he would bat right till the end,” Chopra observed.
Chennai Super Kings will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Tuesday.
