Duleep Trophy: Ruturaj Gaikwad retires hurt second ball of India C vs India B match

India C captain Ruturaj Gaikwad retired hurt after the second ball of the Duleep Trophy match against India B at the Rural Development Trust Stadium “B” in Anantapur on Thursday.

After being put into bat, Gaikwad hit the first ball of the match for four off India B seamer Mukesh Kumar before being forced to retire hurt off the next delivery. It is unclear what caused the Maharashtra batter to walk off the field. Madhya Pradesh’s Rajat Patidar replaced Gaikwad as he walked in at 3 in the first over to join Sai Sudharsan.

In the previous round in Anantapur, Gaikwad’s side had secured a thrilling victory over India D. Chasing down a 236-run target in a closely fought contest, Gaikwad had set the tempo with a quickfire 48-ball 46 for India C. However, a quick collapse had put them in trouble before Manav Suthar and Abishek Porel took the side over the line.

Gaikwad has endured a stop-start red-ball journey in recent months. Last December, the Chennai Super Kings captain was named in the Indian Test squad for the South Africa tour before being ruled out due to a ring finger injury. The 27-year-old has since not made his way back into the Test squad.

Ruturaj made his First-Class debut for Maharashtra in October 2016 and has since struck over 2000 runs, averaging over 42 with six centuries and 10 half-centuries.

Meanwhile, Mayank Agarwal-led India A is facing Shreyas Iyer’s India D in the other Duleep Trophy contest, held at the Anantapur Cricket Ground’s main facility. India D won the toss and opted to bowl against India A.

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