‘I realise I’ve done something special’- Ruturaj Gaikwad reveals how he hit seven sixes in an over in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Ruturaj Gaikwad etched his name in the history books last month as he became the first batter to hit seven sixes in an over in white-ball cricket. The 25-year-old achieved the feat during the quarter-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Uttar Pradesh’s spinner Shiva Singh. The Maharashtra batter recently called his achievement ‘mind-boggling’

“Yes, that’s the right word. I feel special. I was quite busy with the other matches, so I just haven’t had a chance to watch it again and relive it, but I’m thankful for all the love and appreciation that it got me. I realise I’ve done something special – which I have not dreamt of at all – and it is overwhelming,” said Gaikwad in a conversation with The Hindu.

The youngster further talked about his relationship with MS Dhoni at the Chennai Franchise. For Ruturaj, the fact that his cricketing idol mentors him on the field and plays a PlayStation game off the field is the stuff of dreams. “I can proudly say that it [my relationship with Dhoni] has grown a lot. We mostly have a conversation about the match in the team bus post an Indian T20 League game. He has always been welcoming anyone from the team to his hotel room to discuss things, not just about cricket but also other issues,” the Maharashtra opener said.

Talking about the biggest lesson he has learned from Dhoni, Gaikwad said, “He always emphasises on is to stay neutral as much as possible, and not have an up and down graph during success or failure. He also encourages us to play with freedom and lays special emphasis on the time off cricket.”

Whenever I wear the yellow jersey, it comes with a lot of responsibility: Ruturaj Gaikwad

The young sensation further revealed the secret behind the success of the Chennai franchise. “It stands out because there is not one guy or group talking negatively about you. Everyone, from the coach to the support staff, are always backing you and showing faith in your abilities. They see only the positives and not the negatives,” he said.

Up next, Ruturaj will be busy with the Ranji Trophy and is also looking forward to continuing his rich form with the men in yellow for the next season of the Indian T20 League “Whenever I wear the yellow jersey, it comes with a lot of responsibility, as several great cricketers have represented this franchise,” Gaikwad concluded.