Ruturaj Gaikwad Dismisses Chhattisgarh Batsman in Domestic Cricket Comeback

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings and India player, has made a comeback to domestic cricket by showcasing his bowling skills in the ongoing Buchi Babu tournament. Representing Maharashtra, Gaikwad, who is not known for his bowling prowess, played a crucial role in the match against Chhattisgarh.

In the fag end of the day, Gaikwad was slammed for a six, but he bounced back with a vengeance. He caught and bowled Sourabh Majumdar, ending Chhattisgarh's resistance at 252 runs. This marks the first time Gaikwad has played any top-level cricket since suffering an elbow injury that had ruled him out halfway through the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The injury had resulted in MS Dhoni making a comeback into the role of Chennai Super Kings captain for the remainder of the season.

The Buchi Babu Trophy, which returned after a six-year hiatus in 2023, is considered one of the oldest-running cricket tournaments in India. The tournament is named after Mothavarapu Venkata Mahipathi Naidu, popularly known as Buchi Babu Naidu, a pioneer of cricket in Tamil Nadu. Sixteen teams are participating in the competition, along with two teams picked by the TNCA - President's XI and TNCA XI. The winner will receive Rs. 3 lakh, while the runner-up will get Rs. 2 lakh.