Ruturaj is a superstar: Fleming

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has described young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad as an "absolute superstar". Pune-based Gaikwad, 24, played a key role in winning CSK's fourth IPL title. Playing only in his second IPL season, Gaikwad ended up with the Orange Cap for scoring 635 runs in IPL-14.

Openers Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis (633 runs) were pillars of CSK's batting, while pacers Shardul Thakur (21 wickets), Deepak Chahar and Dwayne Bravo (14 wickets each) provided regular breakthroughs.

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"He's [Gaikwad] an absolute superstar already in my eyes. When we introduced him last year, people were a bit critical, but we were keeping a tab on him and had very high expectations. What we didn't understand was the effect that COVID-19 would have. We felt for him last year and we are delighted that he finished off the season so well," Fleming said at the post-match virtual press conference.

"Him [Gaikwad] and Faf scoring so many runs is one of the real reasons we won the IPL. I couldn't be happier for Ruturaj. He's a wonderful guy, and for a young player, his maturity is beyond his years. I can't speak more highly about Ruturaj and his combination with Faf, which was critical," remarked Fleming.

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