IND vs AUS: In the thrilling start to the five-match T20I series between India and Australia, the host team emerged victorious by a narrow margin of two wickets. However, the match was not just a display of cricketing prowess but also an event of mixed fortunes for the Indian batsmen. Among them, vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad faced a peculiar and disheartening situation.
Gaikwad, a promising talent in the Indian cricket landscape, found himself walking back to the pavilion in an unfortunate manner. In a startling turn of events, he was run out in the very first over without getting the opportunity to face a single ball. This incident marked a disappointing start for Gaikwad in the much-anticipated series.
IND vs AUS: This misfortune placed Ruturaj Gaikwad in a unique, albeit unwanted, category. He became the third Indian batsman to be dismissed for a ‘diamond duck’ in T20I cricket. A diamond duck, in cricket terms, refers to a batsman getting out without having faced a single delivery.
The incident unfolded during India’s chase of a hefty target of 209 runs set by Australia. The Indian team had a brisk start, scoring 10 runs off the first four balls. However, the fifth ball witnessed a severe lapse in coordination between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Jaiswal, after hitting the ball towards backward square leg, hurried for the first run and ambitiously aimed for a second. But mid-way, he decided against it. By this time, Gaikwad, who had anticipated the second run, found himself in a precarious position, well out of his crease. The Australian fielders seized this opportunity, leading to Gaikwad’s run-out.
IND vs AUS: Such an outcome is rare but not unprecedented in Indian cricket. Gaikwad now finds himself in a list that includes renowned players like Amit Mishra and Jasprit Bumrah, who have previously been dismissed on diamond ducks in T20Is. Bumrah faced this fate against Sri Lanka in 2016, while Mishra experienced it against England in 2017.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s dismissal serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and harsh realities of cricket, where even without a mistake of one’s own, a player can find himself on the wrong side of the record books. Despite this setback, the series continues, offering Gaikwad and the Indian team opportunities to bounce back and showcase their resilient spirit.
Image Credit – navbharattime
