Sometimes even the best of players get a raw deal, and one such day was on Saturday (July 13) for world-eminent Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad in the fourth T20I of the five-match series between India and Zimbabwe in Harare.
Relatively, the match was very important for both sides, and there was a shocking event when Gaikwad dropped a simple catch on the ground. Which could have been among his career’s easiest to catch, which proved costly for the game.
The Missed Opportunity
The said incident took place when Zimbabwe was batting in the eleventh over. Bowling his opening spell, Abhishek Sharma, who got his first international wicket on Friday, was nearly on the verge of getting a second breakthrough. Brian Bennett of Zimbabwe wanted to hit Abhishek up for a big shot.
But he only got an unfair blaze over it, getting only the top of the bat on the ball, and that soared high for Ruturaj Gaikwad to take the catch comfortably.
At that time, the ball looked as if it were an open shot for Ruturaj Gaikwad. Eagling himself to face it, he was poised to easily complete the catch and return to the back of his team. Instead, in one of the moments’ shocks, he was only able to touch the ball with his fingertips at best before it slipped out of his grasp to touch the ground. This unimaginable blunder left Ruturaj Gaikwad a little annoyed and a little bewildered by the missed chance.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Disappointing Performance
It was a similar disappointment, not only for Ruturaj Gaikwad but for each of the Indian players who were eager to get a chance and show on the pitch. Abhishek Sharma, who was desirous of consolidating on the earlier show, must have felt that this was the best opportunity gone a-begging.
This moment was something that somewhat disappointed the Indian side, which was eager to proceed with controlling the Zimbabwe batting. The chance given for a catch made Bennett remain at the crease and put top pressure on the Indian bowler to get rid of his wicket once again.
Limited Damage
Thankfully for India, that was as destructive as Brian Bennett could get during his visit. Bennett never got into his groove and finally went for a duck, being bowled by Washington Sundar in the 14th over. Sundar was able to score Bennett out for a lbw 9 of just 14 balls, thus allowing the missed catch not to continue to hurt the team for the rest of the match.
The goal from Sundar proved to be very vital in cutting down Zimbabwe’s lead and denying them further advantage.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s drop in the match was a rather crucial moment; however, it was not quite that pivotal that it switched the game’s outcome essentially. The Indian side was able to come back and once again take charge of the game, this time led by their fighting bowlers.
That will be a lesson to the talented cricketer since Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to get a big total when most of the Indian batting line-up was gone. For the series, Gaikwad and the entire Indian team will surely strive to improve and maintain their standards in fielding and, on the same note, intensify the hunger for victory.
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