Yeh injury unke liye ek bada jhatka tha, kyunki unhone 2021 mein IPL ka Orange Cap jeeta tha, jab unhone 635 runs banaye the, aur unki consistency aur leadership qualities ko sabne saraha tha. Iske alawa, India A ke saath England tour par bhi unhone dono matches mein hissa nahi liya, jo unke fans ke liye thodi nirasha ki baat thi. Aise samay mein, jab unka form aur fitness sawalon ke ghere mein hai, Yorkshire ke saath unka naya contract ek nayi shuruaat ka sanket de raha hai.
Lekin yahan se kahani mein ek nayi ummeed jagti hai. Yorkshire County Cricket Club ne Ruturaj Gaikwad ko apne squad mein shaamil kiya hai, aur yeh ek bada mauka hai unke liye apni kabiliyat ko international stage par dikhane ka. Woh July ke akhir se season ke ant tak Yorkshire ke liye khelenge, jismein paanch County Championship matches aur Metro Bank One-Day Cup shamil hain. Gaikwad, jo 28 saal ke hain, ek aise batsman hain jo apni technique aur temperament ke liye jaane jaate hain. Unka first-class average 41.77 hai, jismein saat centuries shamil hain, aur List A cricket mein toh unhone 56.15 ke average ke saath 16 centuries banayi hain. Yeh numbers unki consistency aur badi innings khelne ki kshamata ko dikhate hain. Yorkshire ke head coach Anthony McGrath ne bhi unki taareef ki hai, kehkar ki Gaikwad team ko batting mein solidity aur tezi dono de sakte hain. Unka yeh kehna bilkul sahi hai, kyunki Gaikwad ne 2021 IPL season mein dikha diya tha ki woh pressure mein bhi bade runs bana sakte hain, jaise unhone Delhi Capitals ke khilaaf qualifier mein 70 runs ki shandaar innings kheli thi.
Gaikwad ka yeh faisla unke career ke liye ek nayi disha la sakta hai. Yorkshire jaisa club, jahan kabhi Sachin Tendulkar jaise legend bhi khel chuke hain, unhe ek alag mahaul mein apne skills ko polish karne ka mauka dega. Sachin ne 1992 mein Yorkshire ke liye khelte hue ek yaadgaar century banayi thi, aur ab Gaikwad ke paas bhi waisa hi kuch kar dikhane ka mauka hai. Iske alawa, unka List A record unhe One-Day Cup mein ek bada asset bana sakta hai. Unhone 2022-23 Vijay Hazare Trophy mein ek over mein saat chhakke maar kar itihas rach diya tha, jo cricket ke kisi bhi format mein pehli baar hua tha. Yeh performance dikhati hai ki Gaikwad mein woh spark hai jo matches ka rukh badal sakta hai. Yorkshire, jo abhi County Championship ke Division One mein second-last position par hai, ko Gaikwad ke experience aur form ki sakht zarurat hai. Team ko ummeed hai ki woh na sirf runs banayenge, balki team ko silverware jeetne mein bhi madad karenge.
Lekin yeh safar aasan nahi hoga. Gaikwad ke liye ek naye desh mein, alag conditions mein khelna ek badi challenge hoga. English pitches, jo aksar swing aur seam ke liye jaani jaati hain, unke liye nayi baat hogi. Iske alawa, unhone do mahine se zyada samay se competitive cricket nahi kheli hai, aur unki injury ka asar unke form par pad sakta hai. Yorkshire ke fans ko bhi unse turant miracles ki ummeed nahi karni chahiye, kyunki team ka overall performance is season kuch khaas nahi raha hai. Ek player, chahe woh kitna bhi talented ho, poori team ko akele nahi badal sakta. Gaikwad ke liye yeh mauka apne aap ko dobara prove karne ka hai, lekin saath hi saath un par pressure bhi hoga ki woh jaldi se form mein wapas aayein, warna yeh opportunity unke career ke liye ek aur setback ban sakti hai.
