Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain and Maharashtra batter Ruturaj Gaikwad returned to competitive cricket in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament 2025 after a prolonged gap of four months. Playing his first match since the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Gaikwad faltered massively, managing just one run.
AUSA-W
–
INDA-W
–
KNK
187/10
BVB
214/6
Bhimavaram Bulls beat Kakinada Kings by 27 runs
AMR
138/10
VSS
139/1
Vijayawada Sunshiners beat Amaravati Royals by 9 wickets
SKA
–
SLK
–
ABF
–
TKR
–
EDR
172/6
PD
113/5
ODW
–
NDS
–
SDSW
73/3
EDRW
58/7
South Delhi Superstarz Women beat East Delhi Riders Women by 15 runs
NDSW
–
CDQW
–
KHTC
117/8
MRSC
142/4
Masroor Sports Club beat 1.Kieler HTC by 25 runs
THCC
56/10
KSV
59/8
KSV Kings beat THCC ROT-GELB Hamburg by 2 wickets
MTV
96/6
MRSC
91/8
MTV Stallions beat Masroor Sports Club by 4 wickets
KSV
137/4
KHTC
142/2
1.Kieler HTC beat KSV Kings by 8 wickets
THCC
129/6
MTV
75/8
THCC ROT-GELB Hamburg beat MTV Stallions by 54 runs
HTBC
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SCE
–
HTBC
–
VFB
–
SCE
–
SGFD
–
VFB
–
BRCC
–
BRCC
–
SGFD
–
MID
205/4
KENT
279/6
LAN
–
DURH
–
LEI
–
DER
–
HAM
–
NOT
–
ESS
–
GLAM
–
NED-W
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ITA-W
–
IRE-W
–
GER-W
–
BAN
–
IND
–
Match Called off
MUR
–
NWW
–
LLG
–
NK
–
KZK
56/2
NCMI
–
SBSCC
–
CEC-A
–
PCR
–
GUJCC
–
RTZ
–
KUMS
–
GBM
135/3
SML
133/7
Gulbarga Mystics won by 7 wkts
MGD
107/3
HBT
152/7
GBM
–
MYW
–
HBT
–
BNB
–
ROS
114/3
RNC
113/10
Royal Oman Stallions beat Renaissance Challengers by 7 wickets
MUT
–
YSG
156/5
AUS
198/10
SA
296/8
South Africa beat Australia by 98 runs
TRR
–
MAO
–
WEF
–
SOB
–
LOS
–
NOS
–
TRW-W
111/7
MOW-W
113/0
Manchester Originals Women won by 10 wickets
WFW-W
–
SBW-W
–
LSW-W
–
NOS-W
–
AS-A
137/4
PSA
136/9
Adelaide Strikers Academy beat Perth Scorchers Academy by 6 wickets
CHK
206/5
PS
137/8
Chicago Kingsmen beat Pakistan Shaheens by 69 runs
NEP
180/7
HHA
114/10
Nepal beat Hobart Hurricanes Academy by 66 runs
NTS
150/7
BANA
172/4
Bangladesh A won by 22 runs
CHK
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ACOM
–
MS-A
–
PSA
–
NEP
–
MR-A
–
PS
–
AS-A
–
KASS
177/8
KARS
201/3
Kashi Rudras won by 24 runs
MEMA
150/8
LUF
101/3
NOSK
–
GOLS
–
LUF
–
KASS
–
After demoting himself from the opening to number three in the IPL 2025, Gaikwad batted at number four for Maharashtra. His batting in the middle order paved the way for the new signing, Prithvi Shaw, at the top. The right-hand batter walked into the middle when Maharashtra were put under pressure, with 76/2 on the board. He replaced Siddhesh Veer in the middle but couldn’t get going. The 28-year-old attempted a pull shot on a ball that didn’t bounce even above the knee. Varun Singh Bhuie castled the CSK batter, who could score just one run off four balls.
However, in very unusual scenes, Gaikwad bowled the final over of the opening day and also picked up a wicket. Chhattisgarh’s last pair, Shashank Tiwari and Sourabh Majumdar, frustrated Maharashtra captain Ankeet Bawane by holding the four for four overs. Bawne eventually threw the ball towards Gaikwad, who was hit for a six on the second ball. Bowling off-spin, he dismissed Sourabh Mujumdar for seven off 11 balls and folded the Chhattisgarh innings.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured midway through the IPL 2025 due to an elbow injury. He was aiming to return to competitive cricket via a stint with Yorkshire in county cricket, but pulled out due to personal reasons. Gaikwad featured in the Buchi Babu Tournament 2025 to find his mojo before the start of the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025, starting August 27. He will feature in Maharashtra’s next match in the Buchi Babu tournament before joining the West Zone side for the Duleep Trophy.
The upcoming domestic season becomes more important for Gaikwad in terms of his international career. India haven’t found a perfect replacement for number three since Cheteshwar Pujara, who last played in 2023. India tried Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (ATT) 2025, but both failed. With South Africa scheduled to tour India later this year, a good domestic run might help him earn a maiden Test call-up.
