New Delhi, 03 May (H.S.):

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has heaped praise on young batter Kartik Sharma, describing him as a player who can tailor his game perfectly to each match situation. Gaikwad said that Kartik not only has the power to clear the boundary but also possesses the maturity to pace his innings and adapt based on the team’s needs. He added that Kartik’s presence at number four brings better balance to the lineup, allowing him to effectively counter both pace and spin while also rotating the strike sensibly.

In the 44th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, the Chennai Super Kings crushed Mumbai Indians by eight wickets.

Twenty‑year‑old Kartik Sharma played a crucial role in the chase, hitting four boundaries and three sixes en route to an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, which also marked his maiden IPL fifty.

After the match, Gaikwad said: “We got a good start, but there was a phase when they got into rhythm. After that we brought things back under control. Post‑powerplay, we managed the game very well. It was more about seeing through the initial overs and then making sure that one of the top three batters stayed till the end to finish the job. It feels very good to register such a comprehensive win against a strong team like Mumbai.”

Speaking about Kartik’s innings, Gaikwad remarked that the knock has been a big confidence booster for both the player and the team. “He is clearly a six‑hitter, but he has another side to his game too, where he picks and chooses the right deliveries to attack,” he said. “We thought before this match that batting him at number four could give us the balance we need—where he can take on the fast bowlers and still handle the spinners if required, while also rotating the strike. This is a very encouraging sign for us. As Mr. Cricket (CSK batting coach Mike Hussey) has pointed out, once he finds his rhythm, he can give us a lot in the coming years.”

Kartik Sharma, reflecting on his innings, said his primary focus was to stay in till the end and finish the match for the team. “I just kept thinking that I need to bat through and take the team home,” he said. “Rutu Bhai (Ruturaj Gaikwad) just told me to stick to my own game, go out there, express myself, and help the team win.”

In the match, Mumbai Indians batted first and managed 159/7 in 20 overs, with Naman Dhir’s 57 the standout contribution. In reply, CSK chased down the target in 18.1 overs, reaching 160/2. For the Super Kings, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 67 off 48 balls, including five fours and two sixes, while Kartik Sharma sealed his maiden fifty with an unbeaten 54 off 40 balls, featuring four boundaries and three sixes. Kartik had been picked by Chennai Super Kings for INR 14.2 crore in the IPL mini‑auction, and his composed half‑century has validated the franchise’s faith in his talent and adaptability.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar