Ruturaj Gaikwad's recent Instagram post has further highlighted the special bond he shares with MS Dhoni. After India’s win over Zimbabwe in the third T20I, Gaikwad posted a photo of his T20I cap with the caption: "I am ahead of the trend," suggesting his early association with the "Thala for a reason" trend.
Gaikwad's connection with Dhoni is well-known. Dhoni played a pivotal role in Gaikwad's development, especially during his early days with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. Despite a slow start in his debut season in 2020, Dhoni backed Gaikwad, who later flourished under his captaincy. Ahead of IPL 2024, Dhoni chose Gaikwad to lead CSK, passing on the baton to the young right-hander.
After India’s 23-run victory against Zimbabwe, Gaikwad shared a photo of his T20I cap, highlighting the number 88, his T20I cap number, which is assigned chronologically. He added a playful mathematical equation to emphasise his connection with Dhoni: "8=8=16. 1+6= Yellove." This alludes to the iconic number 7 jersey worn by Dhoni, which the BCCI retired to honour him, making Gaikwad's cap number 88 (8+8) a subtle tribute.
Gaikwad’s gesture came just three days after Dhoni's 43rd birthday, adding to its significance. Gaikwad has been in excellent form during the Zimbabwe series, breaking into the top 10 of the ICC T20I rankings for batters for the first time. His performances, including an unbeaten 77 in the second T20I and a solid 49 in the third match, have been instrumental in India taking a 2-1 lead in the series.
After an unexpected defeat in the series opener, the young Indian side, led by Shubman Gill, bounced back with comprehensive wins. Gill (66 off 49), Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 off 27), and Gaikwad (49 off 28) helped India post 182 for four in the third T20I. Zimbabwe's chase was effectively contained, despite a spirited effort from Dion Myers (65 not out of 49), ending at 159 for six.
The fourth T20I of the five-match series will be played in Harare on Saturday, July 13.