PBKS vs CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad scales humungous IPL record despite loss to Punjab Kings

Ruturaj Gaikwad played captain’s knock, but that was not enough for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to save the IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

However, with his brilliant fifty against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Wednesday, May 1, Gaikwad made a stunning entry into the record books. The elegant right-handed batter surpassed legendary MS Dhoni to score the most runs as CSK captain in an IPL season.

Outdoing Dhoni's tally of 461 in the IPL 2013, Gaikwad inked his name in the record books by becoming the first CSK skipper to score 500+ runs in an IPL season. Ruturaj now has 509 runs in the ongoing IPL 2024, surpassing Virat Kohli’s tally of 500 runs to claim the Orang Cap.

Here’s the list of CSK captains with the most runs in an IPL season:

509: Ruturaj Gaikwad (2023)

461: MS Dhoni (2013)

455: MS Dhoni (2018)

419: MS Dhoni (2019)

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad also became the first player in the ongoing IPL 2024 to cross the 500-run mark. With his knock of 62 runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS), the CSK skipper has not only overtaken his former skipper Dhoni but also earned a notable record at the Chepauk Stadium.

With this knock, Gaikwad surpassed the record for the most runs scored by a batter at the Chepauk Stadium in a single IPL season, amassing a total of 396 runs in the ongoing season. With this feat, he surpassed his teammate Devon Conway's previous record of 390 runs set in 2023.

Apart from these feats, Gaikwad also joined an elite club by becoming only the second cricketer to score over 500 runs in a single IPL season on three separate occasions. This feat places him alongside Suresh Raina, who achieved this milestone in 2021, 2023, and 2024, which shows his consistency.

Another big feat awaits Ruturaj Gaikwad

Well, if Gaikwad manages to maintain his form and wins the Orange Cap by the end of the season, he will etch his name in the history books, as he will become the first CSK captain to win the coveted prize for scoring the most runs in an IPL season.

Additionally, he would become the first CSK player to clinch the Orange Cap twice in the IPL. Notably, Ruturaj was not picked in India’s preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 despite being in great form with the bat and the leading run-scorer in the ongoing IPL 2024.

Speaking about the CSK vs PBKS IPL 2024 match, Gaikwad scored 62 runs off 48 balls laced with 5 fours and 2 sixes to take the defending champions to 162/7 on the board against the tourists at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Chasing the target, Jonny Bairstow’s 46 and Rilee Rossouw’s 43 took the PBKS over the line with 13 balls to spare, as CSK suffered a 7-wicket defeat at their home. However, CSK remains in the third spot in the IPL 2024 points table, but they have to return to winning ways to qualify for the playoffs as the race for knockouts has already intensified.