Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Ruturaj Gaikwad had a rollercoaster ride in the 13th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL).
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After landing in UAE, Gaikwad tested positive for the novel Coronavirus and he had to be in isolation for 22 days in a hotel room.
It was such a difficult phase for Ruturaj that he had thought he won’t be able to display his skills in the IPL 2020.
“I thought I would have to sit out of this IPL. To test positive for Covid-19 and get locked up in a hotel room for 22 days was quite difficult. It was my dream to play for the Chennai Super Kings,” Gaikwad told The Indian Express.
Initially, he served the 14-day quarantine but another positive COVID-19 test extended his isolation by a week.
“That’s when I got worried. I thought I would not get to play even a single game,” he added.
During his stay in the hotel, Ruturaj Gaikwad spent most of his time watching shows on Netflix.
“I have lost track of the number of shows I have watched on Netflix. Narcos is my favourite. I think I might have watched it at least 3 times,” he said.
After 22 days in quarantine and two negative COVID-19 tests, Ruturaj eventually returned to training. Two days after he joined the team, Ambati Rayudu sustained an injured and CSK skipper MS Dhoni asked the youngster to bat in the middle order.
“I was really excited to get the call-up. But I was still tentative and not 100% physically and mentally,” Ruturaj stated.
A first-ball duck on debut against Rajasthan Royals was followed by 5 against Delhi Capitals, but the twin failures didn’t dent his confidence.
Once he was given the opportunity to open the innings, Gaikwad didn’t disappoint his captain and registered the scores of 0, 65*, 72 and 62* in four innings.
“We still have three matches to go. Let’s forget about the results and enjoy ourselves. Let’s play for this jersey and our fans,” Ruturaj recalled Dhoni’s pep talk after his duck against Mumbai Indians.
Reflecting on his IPL 2020 campaign, the 23-year-old said: “IPL has made me a better person. I have realised that in life, one should not take anything for granted. I have now learnt to enjoy the game more and remain in the present, because with so much happening in the world, you never know what the future holds.”
