Ruturaj Gikwad (Image Credit: X)

New Delhi: Ruturaj Gikwad On Thursday, it was reflected as to how he used a five-month injury-lady pruning to work on his red-ball game, although the Indian batsman admitted that he still has “a long way to go into the traditional format”.Guikawad injured his elbow in early April during an IPL 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals, reduced his term Chennai Super Kings Skipper. The tremor dropped him out of a series from India against Lions of England before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He later withdrawn from a county contract with Yorkshire for personal reasons.Despite disappointment, Gaikwad found positivity in the applied break.“I had a good time to prepare, especially after not being a part of India. And then after he returned, I decided to work on my red ball game, gave it some time and obviously working on it, yet to go for a long time, “he said that the Dalip Trophy against the Central Zone said after scoring 184 for West Zone on the early day of the semi -final.Following this effort, his second serial hundred was marked after his century in the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament against Himachal Pradesh.On returning after the break, Gaikwad admitted that it was not easy.“Not really. In fact, it was about following this process. The red ball game really needs a lot of patience, a lot of process is to be followed and it was just about joining that rhythm. And you know, I almost one and a half months and obviously with Buchi Babu and then it happened here too.”He said that from that time, he got a chance to spend mental peace and quality time with family.“I mean, no one wants to injured the time of the family. It was a very temporary injury and no one can do anything about it. Therefore, I just enjoyed my time at home and then it was evident that I was trying to get into the rhythm, got into the game routine, you know, do small things and really loved them completely.”The 28-year-old has also adapted to bat at number 4, a role he often plays for Maharashtra and sometimes for CSK.“I wouldn’t say it’s 2.0, because you know, I think in the white ball, I always opened but in the red ball, only one place was available in Maharashtra when I joined the team. Therefore, I think this only place was available. Whenever you know, two appropriate openers were playing, I always used to play in three. So, of course, there were no real places for me, but now, of course, I think I am really comfortable there, ”he said.His composition in the semi -finals was clear, when walking at 10 o’clock for two, he stabilized the West Zone with a large hundred.“I felt it was a good challenge because of course, three really good (central region) fast bowlers, you know, to be able to face great skills and to be able to face them, would be a big challenge to be able to score against them. This is what I thought and obviously, I cling to it and really happy that it has stopped, ”he said.Gaikwad also praised Tanush Kotian, with which he shared a 148 -run stand for the sixth wicket.“He is always a really well bats. He has a scoring run habit. He has a proper Mumbai brain, really street is smart and knows when to score runs, knows when the pressure is to sleep. Therefore, you know, he is always done in front of me and still, he really bat, he said.”Recently, MS Dhoni said Gaikwad’s return would strengthen CSK’s batting in IPL 2026, a comment welcomed by Gaikwad.“The support was always there. There was nothing to be shy about it and obviously, I know, I miss that tournament and then later there is some replacement (Ayush Matre, Sheikh Rashid etc.).