Ruturaj Gaikwad Heroics Lift Maharashtra in Ranji 2025

By Harshit - Oct 16, 2025 02:46 PM
Last updated on Oct 16, 2025 02:46 PM

Maharashtra looked in deep trouble early on, reduced to 18 for 5 on a surface that offered seam and variable bounce. Prithvi Shaw was out for a four-ball duck, and the top order's sudden collapse made a recovery look unlikely. What followed, however, was a composed counter that changed the tone of the contest.

At the heart of Maharashtra's revival was Ruturaj Gaikwad, whose calm, technically assured 91 anchored a rebuilding effort that took the side to 179 for 7. His innings combined patience, late judgment and timely aggression when conditions permitted, turning what could have been an embarrassing collapse into a respectable total.

The early carnage: from 0 for 3 to 18 for 5

The innings began disastrously for Maharashtra, with the top order undone within the powerplay. Moisture from overnight showers and a lively new ball allowed seamers to extract movement and bounce, and the Kerala attack struck with brutal efficiency. M. D. Nidheesh led the charge, using in-swing and out-swing to tempt false shots and produce swift breakthroughs.

Shaw's dismissal, trapped on the front pad after failing to adjust to a late-incoming delivery, was emblematic of the wider problems — hurried footwork and a tendency to play across the line. That early phase was a test of temperament for the entire side, and Maharashtra had to regroup quickly to avoid total collapse.

Gaikwad stands tall: technique, timing and temperament

Ruturaj Gaikwad played a vital knock of 91 to help Maharashtra resurrect from 18/5 💪

Relive his gutsy knock 🔽

Video Link 📽️ https://t.co/uxPAt7Avkb#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/aczWDC9bwx

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 15, 2025

Gaikwad's innings was a blueprint for how to survive and then thrive on a tricky wicket. Initially content to block and leave, he kept his hands soft and played late. He avoided unnecessary risks, punishing only those deliveries that warranted attack. His first boundaries were measured drives rather than flamboyant swipes, reflecting a clear game plan.

As the ball lost its shine and the pitch eased, Gaikwad expanded his repertoire — sweeping the spinners, driving fuller balls and rotating strike with purpose. His partnership with Jalaj Saxena steadied the innings, providing both runs and the crucial mental relief needed for recovery. A nip-backer from Eden Apple Tom eventually ended his stay at 91, but by then he had given Maharashtra a fighting score.

Supporting acts: Saxena and the lower-order resistance

Once Gaikwad had weathered the new-ball storm, contributions from partners amplified the rescue. Jalaj Saxena played a pivotal second-role, mixing aggression with sensible defence and helping rotate the strike. His ability to find gaps and accelerate when needed meant the scoreboard kept ticking during crucial phases.

The lower order also chipped in when required, adding useful runs that would have been invaluable had Kerala been able to press home the early advantage. Those runs changed the contest's psychological balance — Kerala had momentum early, but Maharashtra reclaimed composure by the close of play.

Bowling plans and conditions: how Kerala probed for wickets

Kerala's attack made full use of the conditions. The seamers stuck to disciplined lengths, swinging the ball and varying their angles. Nidheesh's polished in-swinger, which he had worked on in the pre-season, proved particularly effective — it accounted for key wickets and exposed technical frailties among the top order.

As the innings progressed and the pitch lost some of its morning sting, Kerala introduced spinners and changed their lengths to force errors. A couple of deliveries that kept low troubled even the set batsmen, but the earlier damage was softened by Maharashtra's middle-order resistance.

Contrasting arcs: what this innings means for Shaw and Gaikwad

For Prithvi Shaw, this match was another painful reminder that form and confidence can drift. Once a teenage Test centurion, Shaw has had an uneven run of late — impulsive shot selection and impatience at the crease have cost him. This duck will increase the pressure on him to correct technique and rebuild his red-ball game.

Gaikwad, by contrast, reinforced the narrative of steady progression. Often judged by his white-ball exploits, he has quietly accumulated red-ball credentials and this 91 under testing conditions strengthens his case as a player capable of longer-format responsibility. If he carries this form through the season, selectors will have little option but to take notice.

Implications for Maharashtra and the Ranji season

Bad light has forced early stumps on Day 1!

An exciting day's play!

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jalaj Saxena's crucial 122-run stand takes Maharashtra to 179/7. The duo helped resurrect from 18/5!

MD Nidheesh, with 4 wickets, was the pick of the bowlers for Kerala.

Scorecard ▶️… pic.twitter.com/vUelQO3kVg

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 15, 2025

Surviving from 18 for 5 to finish on 179 for 7 gives Maharashtra a platform. The total is modest, but the psychological turnaround matters — a side that can recover from early damage gains momentum and belief. For Kerala, the task is to exploit what advantage they can with the ball and press for a first-innings lead.

On a larger scale, performances like Gaikwad's can shape the Ranji Trophy narrative. Strong red-ball displays in the early rounds often convert into selection talk and leadership roles, while repeated failures for high-profile batsmen like Shaw deepen discussions about technique, role and role clarity.

Looking ahead: what to watch in the next sessions

The immediate questions are simple: can Maharashtra build on the middle-order recovery to post a more formidable total, and will Kerala's bowlers adapt their tactics to exploit any remaining assistance in the pitch? If spinners find turn or seamers extract variable bounce again, the contest will stay finely poised.

Individually, Gaikwad will look to convert this momentum into bigger scores, while Shaw needs to rediscover the defensive shape and footwork that made him a prodigious starter. For neutrals, this match will be worth following as a barometer of where several careers stand heading into the heart of the Ranji season.

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