Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dubey took complete control of the Lucknow Super Giants bowlers on Tuesday, taking their team to a score of 210/4 in 20 overs. Gaikwad scored an unbeaten century while Shivam Dubey played a quickfire 66 as CSK celebrated at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. To add to the joy of CSK fans, MS Dhoni also came to bat and finished in style by hitting a four. Gaikwad, who took over the captaincy of CSK from Dhoni this season, remained unbeaten after scoring 108* runs.

This is the first time that a CSK captain has scored a century in IPL. This is also the highest score by any CSK captain in IPL. MS Dhoni’s highest score in IPL is 84*. However, it has to be kept in mind that Gaikwad is an opening batsman while Dhoni bats in the middle order and hence, he always has less balls.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliant unbeaten century and Shivam Dubey’s ferocious half-century laid the foundation for Chennai Super Kings’ competitive score of 210 for four against Lucknow Super Giants. Gaikwad (108, 60b, 12×4, 3×6) and Dubey (66, 27b, 3×4, 7×6) added 104 runs for an entertaining fourth wicket, providing momentum to the Super Kings innings after the power play (49/2) and route.

CSK should mainly thank Gaikwad, who played an innings that was a connoisseur’s delight after the early dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane, for a total that was brilliantly dismissed by stumper KL Rahul off Matt Henry. Took a catch.

Batting in this edition of the IPL has been all about scorching the ball away, but Gaikwad took a classic route, timing the ball through the gaps for fours.

In fact, there were no fours in his first half-century but he still managed to maintain a strike-rate above 180 during that phase.

The right-handed batsman’s 17th half-century in the IPL came off just 28 balls. The most spectacular shot played by Gaikwad on the night was a slice-cut off fast bowler Mohsin Khan which hit the point fielder for four.

However, he was also focussed on forming useful partnerships with his teammates as he made 45 with Daryl Mitchell, who replaced Rachin Ravindra, and 52 with Ravindra Jadeja (17).

However, both Mitchell (11) and Jadeja, who were out for four, will regret missing the chance to play a big innings.

While Gaikwad was the main contributor in those partnerships, the pressure took off a bit from Gaikwad’s shoulders once Dube came to the crease.

The left-handed batsman played some powerful hits around the ground and not surprisingly, hit the first six of CSK’s innings in the 13th over off fast bowler Marcus Stoinis.

Gaikwad soon hit his first six of the innings off the 45th ball he faced – pulling Stoinis’ half-tracker over mid-wicket.

However, Dubey slipped effortlessly in his six-hitting avatar and fast bowler Yash Thakur had to bear the brunt of it as the left-handed batsman hit him for three consecutive sixes.

Gaikwad, who reached 99 with a six over extra cover off Thakur, completed his second IPL century with a four off the next ball as he scored 16 runs in the 18th over.

Gaikwad and Dubey completed 100 runs of their partnership in just 46 balls.

Dubey completed his half-century in 22 balls by hitting fours and sixes off consecutive balls from Mohsin as CSK conceded 71 runs in the last five overs.

With PTI inputs