It is said that cricket is a game of perfect timing. And while India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad exhibited this while scoring his maiden ODI century (83-ball 105, 12×4, 2×6) against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, his father Dashrat too timed things well back home in Pune.
Gaikwad Sr managed to switch on the television just moments before his son pulled SA pacer Corbin Bosch for a boundary to bring up his 77-ball 100, Ruturaj’s mother Savita revealed on Wednesday.
“We both were busy at home doing some work, but just a few minutes before Ruturaj got to his 100, his dad happened to switch on the TV and we saw him achieve it. It was like a yogayog [a Marathi word which means coincidence] to switch on the TV at the perfect time,” Savita told mid-day over the phone from Pune on Wednesday.
Thanks to centuries by No. 4 Gaikwad and No. 3 Virat Kohli’s (93-ball 102, 7×4, 2×6), India posted 358-5 in the second ODI in Raipur.
Gaikwad, 28, has represented India in 23 T20Is, scoring 633 runs, including one hundred and four fifties, while, in eight ODIs, his tally stands at 228 runs. Interestingly, Ruturaj’s parents haven’t witnessed him play an international match from the stands. “We have never watched any of his India matches at the ground as I used to be very busy with my job as a teacher. Once, Ruturaj took both of us to Chennai to watch one of his IPL matches. As parents, we feel proud that he now has centuries in both [T20I and ODI] formats. Since his U-16 days, we have seen his struggle and hard work. Now, he is living his dream of playing for the country, so [we are] very grateful,” added the mother.
Ruturaj’s dad admitted that, as parents, they too felt the pressure, which is why they tend to avoid watching their son bat. “It’s a proud moment for all of us that Ruturaj scored his first ODI century; something we had been waiting for long. It’s also a big thing that he got an opportunity to share a crucial partnership [of 195 runs] with the great Virat Kohli. Usually, we avoid watching while he’s batting as there is pressure, but this time, luckily, we managed to see him score a century,” said Gaikwad Sr.
