India opener Ruturaj Gaikwad finally, in his 6th T20I, got his first half-century in the national colours, when he stroked 57 runs off 35 balls versus South Africa in the third T20I, in Vizag.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Survived A Nasty Bouncer
Gaikwad wouldn’t even have started this series if not for KL Rahul‘s groin injury. He managed scores of 2
3 and 1 in the first couple of T20I and questions were being raised about his temperament at the international level despite IPL success for the Chennai Super Kings.
The Maharasthra opener shut down all criticism and doubts with a classy knock that powered India to a sizeable total of 179.
Gaikwad, though, didn’t have a smooth start to his innings, he looked iffy against Parnell and Rabada before hitting the latter for a four and a six to calm down his nerves.
Then came the onslaught on South Africa’s fastest bowler, Anrich Nortje, that left all jaws hanging as Gaikwad teed off to Nortje despite being hit on the helmet with a searing, nasty bouncer.
In the fifth over, Nortje’s first, Gaikwad started with a powerful cut shot for four followed by a shimmy down the track which he pulled over mid-on for another four.
Gaikwad Smashed A Stunning Repply
Nortje came back strongly with a sharp short ball to which Gaikwad was late on his shot. He bent his knees and tried to guide it over the wicket-keeper, however, was late on it and the ball hit the grill of his helmet. Unfortunately for Nortje, the ball, after taking a small deflection from Gaikwad’s helmet, raced away for four!
Gaikwad was checked by the physio for concussion and was cleared to resume. The right-hander then added two more fours – one of the leg side and the other on the off side – making it five in a row. Gaikwad attempted a slash on the last ball as well but failed to connect but had taken 20 off Nortje’s over, putting pressure on the visitors.
Here, watch the short ball from Nortje hitting Gaikwad’s helmet and some reactions to it:
Nasty bouncer to #ruturajgaikwad #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/dNhlkb52Vc
— Jeetendra (@Jeetendra0908) June 14, 2022
RUTURAJ
my goodness#INDvsSA #RuturajGaikwad
— Abhimanyu shukla (@Abhiman12242176) June 14, 2022
#RuturajGaikwad hitting 5 boundaries in an over – 4,4,4,4 from Bat and 1 from Helmet
— DaebakAnkita
(@DaebakankitaF) What a ball #AnrichNortje #RuturajGaikwad pic.twitter.com/82Zdd3WCyx
— Soni Gupta (@SoniGup46462554) June 14, 2022
