Ruturaj Gaikwad Signs with Yorkshire: CSK Captain Set for First-Ever County Cricket Stint

Ruturaj Gaikwad hoping for red-ball comeback with Yorkshire after injury-hit IPL 2025

Ruturaj Gaikwad had captained in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings in this season of the TATA IPL 2025. However, his elbow injury didn’t allowed him to participate in more matches of the 18th edition and that’s why Mahendra Singh Dhoni took over the team’s command for the remaining matches of this IPL edition.

Now it has been two months that Ruturaj Gaikwad has been out of all the cricketing activities. Overall Ruturaj has played for India in the white ball form of the game and he is yet to play his maiden red ball game for the Men in Blue. Ruturaj Gaikwad has played just six matches in the One Day International format and he has also participated in 23 matches of the shorter version of the game for India. He has hit one half century in the six games of the fifty overs format while in T20Is, the opener has scored four fifties and one century to his name.

Gaikwad said that he is looking forward to play in England and excited to be in the team of Yorkshire. Gaikwad’s aim was to play a red ball match in England and Yorkshire would be the best team that he would play for. There are some important matches coming up in the County Championship and One Day Cup, this is an opportunity for the team Yorkshire to win the silverware.

Indian Cricket Legends Who Graced the English County Championship

Apart from the opening batsman of the Indian Cricket Team, Ruturaj Gaikwad, there are 10 other players, who became the legends later on in their careers had played in the County Championship of England’s domestic matches. Here Are Those names –

1. Kapil Dev 

The former Indian Skipper and the first winner of the ODI World Cup, Kapil Dev was the first ever Indian to play in the County Championship. India’s 1983 ODI World Cup winner, Kapil Dev played for Somerset in the year 1980.

2. Mohammad Azharuddin 

India’s stylish batter and another former captain, Mohammed Azharuddin also played in the County Championship tournament. He had amassed 2728 runs when he played for two seasons with the team of Derbyshire.

3. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

The Master Blaster and The God Of Cricket, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was the first ever player from Team India to play for Yorkshire in 1992 and now, Ruturaj Gaikwad will also play for that same team in the County Championship in 2025.   

4. Anil Kumble

India’s legendary spin bowler and the former skipper, who led the team in the red ball matches, Anil Kumble played in the County Championship in 1995 for Northamptonshire and he picked up 105 scalps to his name.

5. Rahul Dravid 

The Great Wall Of India, Rahul Dravid, who was also the skipper of the Men in Blue, had played for Kent in 2000 and he also joined Scotland afterwards. Under the leadership of The Wall, India had won a red ball series in England during the 2007 tour, which remains to be the last one.

6.   Sourav Ganguly 

The former Indian skipper and the Prince of Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly had played for three different teams in three different seasons of County Championship. Dada played for Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Glamorgan.

7.   Virender Sehwag 

The Indian opener, Virender Sehwag has played for Leicestershire in 2003. But he was suspended because of his back injury.

8.   Yuvraj Singh 

India’s World Cup hero of 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, Yuvraj Singh is the second Indian player after the legend Sachin Tendulkar to play for Yorkshire in the County Championship in 2003. Ruturaj Gaikwad is another Indian to play for the same team of County where the two legends have already played.

9. Zaheer Khan 

The legendary pace bowler who was also the hero of the 2011 fifty overs World Cup, Zaheer Khan had played for Worcestershire in 2006 and Zak picked up 78 wickets to his name from just 16 County Championship games.

10.  Cheteshwar Pujara 

India’s former red ball match specialist batter, Chetesthwar Pujara had also played the County Championship in England. He was also the part of the title winning squad of Yorkship in 2015. Pujara scored 264 runs in that edition. Now Ruturaj Gaikwad will be became the 11th Indian to play the County Championship and just the fourth Indi to represent the team of Yorkshire.