Ruturaj Dasharath Gaikwad, better known as Ruturaj Gaikwad was born on January 31, 1997, in Pune, Maharashtra. The cricketer comes from a middle-class family and is currently one of the best young all-rounders in cricket. While his father, Dasharath Gaikwad was an employee at the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), his mother, Sawita Gaikwad worked as a teacher at a municipality school. Right from an early age, Ruturaj developed a strong interest in cricket, and his parents always supported and encouraged him to improve.
When Ruturaj Gaikwad was 13, his parents sent him to Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) Varroc Dilip Vengsarkar Academy. It was the beginning of his journey to become a professional cricketer. The cricketer completed his primary education at St Joseph's Boys' High School, Pune, in Khadki.
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It was in the Cadence Trophy 2010 when Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 63 runs against Mumbai's mighty MIG Cricket club and received the 'Man of the Match' award. After five years of hard work and dedicated training, Ruturaj Gaikwad once again turned heads when he scored 306 runs at the Maharashtra Invitational tournament. The youngster made his Ranji Trophy debut in the 2016-2017 tournament and introduced himself to List A cricket in the 2016-2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In 2018, Chennai Super Kings signed Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the 2019 IPL (Indian Premier League) season, considering his impressive performance in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, he first appeared for CSK in 2020 and instantly caught everyone's attention, scoring 200 runs in just six matches. The young cricketer made his ODI debut on October 6, 2022, against South Africa and his T20I debut on July 28, 2021, against Sri Lanka.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was not a part of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, but reports are rife that he could feature in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Courtesy of his impressive innings for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for some years now, he is tipped to be an essential asset for the Indian cricket team for years to come. However, a significant moment in Ruturaj's career came on March 22, 2024, when Chennai Super Kings announced him as their new captain, replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni after 16-long-years.
In 2008, when the first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was held in India, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) signed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and made him their captain. The former Indian skipper led him for the next 16 seasons, and ahead of the 17th season, he passed the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad. It was a heartbreaking moment for IPL fans to see MS Dhoni handing the captaincy to Ruturaj, but it was indeed a necessary move by the management with the future in mind.
Everyone is aware of Ruturaj Gaikwad's professional life, but his personal life hardly gets into the headlines. For the uninitiated, Ruturaj is happily married to Utkarsha Pawar, who is also a cricketer by profession.
The stunning couple got married on June 3, 2023, in a plush hotel in Mahabaleshwar. Ruturaj and Utkarsha twinned in beige outfits on the biggest day of their lives. Talking about Utkarsha's team, she plays for the Maharashtra team at the domestic level.
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Utkarsha Pawar appeared on the famous Marathi podcast, Coffee, Cricket Aani Barach Kaahi, back in 2023 and shared a series of things about her journey as a cricketer. Starting with her childhood days, Utkarsha revealed that she was a huge fan and admirer of legendary Indian pacer, Zaheer Khan. Her immense desire to become a bowler like Zaheer Khan convinced her father to send him to the famous cricketing coach, Anwar Shaikh. She said:
"I wanted to run in fast just like Zaheer and bowl as fast as I could. Seeing my desire to bowl fast, my father took me to Anwar Shaikh, who honed my bowling skills. I also went to the nets where Santosh Jedhe, former Maharashtra captain, used to coach players."
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Further, in the same podcast, Utkarsha Pawar also addressed the much-asked question of how long she will play cricket after her marriage. The ace bowler clearly stated that she would continue to play cricket as long as her fitness allows her. Utkarsha also added that her husband, Ruturaj Gaikwad and her in-laws are extremely supportive and encourage her to continue playing. She said:
"I am repeatedly asked about my career now that I am married. Not from the family but only the outsiders seem to be worried about it. My family is supportive. Ruturaj and his family are extremely supportive, our relatives are also supportive… but the question does come up from outsiders. I will continue to play cricket for as long as I wish and as long as my body allows me. One can be 200 per cent sure about it, not just 100 per cent."
During the podcast, Utkarsha Pawar also shared that when she was young, she used to take Kathak lessons due to her interest in classical dance. However, when her guru told her to stay away from cricket or any other sporting activities if she didn't want to lose her 'tenderness'. After getting such advice from her guru, she quit Kathak and focused entirely on cricket, which speaks volumes about her love for the game.
We hope Ruturaj Gaikwad and Utkarsha Pawar continue to shine in their respective teams!
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