Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Ruturaj Gaikwad completed 2,000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday, becoming the fourth member of the team to achieve the feat Achievement players. The 27-year-old achieved the milestone against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Gaikwad played his smoothest knock of the season, scoring 69 runs off 40 balls. His batting was adorned with five boundaries and five majestic sixes. His run-striking percentage is 172.50. In 58 IPL games, Gaikwad scored 2,021 runs at an average of 39.62 and a strike rate of 134.91. He scored 1, 16 and 50 runs in 57 innings, with a best score of 101*. He is CSK’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the IPL, behind Faf Du Plessis (2,721 runs in 92 matches), MS Dhoni (4,547 runs in 226 matches) and Suresh Raina (4,687 runs in 176 matches).

He is the fastest Indian to reach the milestone in just 57 innings and is third overall behind Chris Gayle (48 innings) and Sean Marsh (52 innings).

Gaikwad’s best season with CSK since his debut in 2020 was the 2021 season. That season, he scored 635 points in 16 games, averaging 45.35 points per game, shooting 136.26 from the field, and 100.450 percent. He won the most Orange Caps and won the fifth IPL title for the Men in Yellow.

So far this season, Gaikwad has scored 224 points in six games, averaging 44.80 with a strike rate of just over 130 and two half-centuries. His best score is 69 points, making him the seventh-highest scorer this season.

Once the game started, MI won the toss, allowing CSK to bat first.

After Ajinkya Rahane (5 balls) and Rachin Ravindra (21 off 16 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six) failed to make much of an impact, Gaikwad (69 off 40 balls, 5 fours and 5 sixes) ) and Shivam Dube (66* off 38 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes) stitched a 90-run partnership. Later, MS Dhoni (20* with four balls) came out in the final over and took a six-ball hat-trick as CSK posted a record of 206/4 in 20 overs.

Hardik Pandya (2/43) is the bowler for MI. Shrias Gopal and Gerald Coetzee picked up one wicket each.