Ruturaj Dashrath Gaikwad is an Indian cricketer who plays as a right-handed top-order batsman. He represents Maharashtra in domestic cricket, Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and has played for the India national cricket team across formats. Gaikwad rose to prominence in the IPL with consistent run-scoring at the top of the order and was appointed captain of Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2024 IPL season, succeeding Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
| Full name | Ruturaj Dashrath Gaikwad |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 January 1997 |
| Place of birth | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm off-break (occasional) |
| Role | Top-order batsman |
| Domestic team | Maharashtra |
| IPL team | Chennai Super Kings |
| National side | India |
Gaikwad was born and raised in Pune. He came through the Maharashtra Cricket Association's age-group system, representing the state at the under-19 and under-23 levels before establishing himself in senior domestic cricket. He was part of the India squad that toured England for the 2018 Under-19 series and earned selection for the India A side in subsequent seasons, where consistent performances brought him into national reckoning.
Gaikwad made his first-class debut for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy and his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has been a prolific run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, including a notable run of consecutive centuries during the 2022–23 edition while leading Maharashtra. He led Maharashtra to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in that season.
Chennai Super Kings signed Gaikwad ahead of the 2019 IPL auction. After limited opportunities in his initial season, he established himself as a regular opener from 2020 onwards.
Gaikwad made his international debut for India in the Twenty20 International (T20I) format during the home series against Sri Lanka in 2021. He subsequently made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India. In a T20I against Zimbabwe in 2022, he scored a century and set a record for the most runs in a single over in international T20 cricket, hitting seven sixes in an over (which included a no-ball) bowled by Hardus Viljoen.
Gaikwad captained the India men's cricket team at the 2022 Asian Games (held in Hangzhou, China, in September–October 2023). India won the gold medal under his leadership, with the final against Afghanistan being decided in India's favour.
Gaikwad is known for an orthodox technique, strong off-side play, and the ability to construct innings while accelerating in the middle and back end of limited-overs games. His cover drives and lofted strokes down the ground are considered signature shots.
Gaikwad's emergence has been seen as part of a generational shift in Chennai Super Kings, where he is viewed as a long-term batting mainstay and leadership figure following the eventual transition from the Dhoni era. His Orange Cap in 2021, captaincy of CSK from 2024, and gold-medal-winning campaign at the Asian Games mark him as one of the prominent young Indian batters of his generation.