'I went through a very tough phase': Why Ruturaj Gaikwad became emotional after his century against Sri Lanka A

Following a difficult IPL campaign, Ruturaj Gaikwad bounced back in style with a commanding century against Sri Lanka A, scoring 101 runs while batting at No. 4. The knock marked a welcome return to form for the talented batter, whose struggles in the IPL had drawn considerable attention.

In the 2026 IPL season, Ruturaj managed 337 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of 123.44, numbers that fell short of expectations. His inability to consistently accelerate the scoring rate became a talking point throughout the tournament and remained a concern for the CSK think tank.

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Gaikwad decorated his century with four boundaries and three sixes with a strike rate of 88.60 and hammered a classy 101-run innings in 114 balls. However, the century against Sri Lanka A showcased a different side of the right-hander. Looking far more composed and confident at the crease, Ruturaj appeared to have rediscovered his fluency.

Why did Ruturaj become emotional after the match?

The India A vice-captain has finally found his rhythm. His lack of form put major pressure on the Chennai side. In the 2025 IPL, he played 6 matches and scored 122 runs with a strike rate of 150 runs. His average strike rate always clicks the 135 clocks, but in this season, most of the teams it remained a par 120; the lack of intent created a vacuum in his run-scoring ability.

After the 1^st innings, he opened up on the matter and stated, "I'm feeling really good today after scoring runs. But I went through a very tough phase during the IPL. I tried my best, but I couldn't score runs. It was a very difficult period in my life during that IPL season. However, after playing this innings, I'm feeling much better. I want to continue playing like this and contribute to the team."

Innings summary: Vaibhav falls short on India A debut

Batting first, India A scored 277 runs, losing 6 wickets. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the baby boss, struggled to announce himself on his debut match for India A. He returned to the pavilion after smashing three fours and scoring 14 runs in 12 balls. After this, Prabhsimran Singh also returned early.

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Then, Priyansh Arya and Ruturaj Gaikwad carried forward the innings, forming a 53-run partnership in 53 balls. Priyansh Arya failed to convert the start and returned, scoring 32 runs in 32 balls.Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad formed a castle of runs. The two most senior players formed a partnership of 150 runs in 185 balls.

Tilak Varma also shines

India A's captain and vice-captain played pivotal roles with the bat, laying a strong foundation in the middle overs. Tilak Varma contributed a composed 60 off 97 deliveries, while Ruturaj Gaikwad took charge of the scoring and remained the driving force of the innings. The right-hander brought up his century in style, striking four fours and three sixes while maintaining a strike rate of 88.60.

Following Gaikwad's dismissal, Ayush Badoni and Harsh Dubey Shedge injected late momentum with a brisk 46-run stand. Their valuable partnership helped India A finish strongly and post an imposing total of 277 on the scoreboard.