Team India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has entered a new chapter of his life as he recently married his long-time partner Utkarsha Pawar, who herself is a cricketer representing Maharashtra. The 26-year-old batter missed out on participating in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia due to his wedding ceremony, which took place on June 3 in Mahabaleshwar.
Gaikwad was initially named as a standby player in the Indian squad but was later replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Gaikwad played a pivotal role in CSK’s triumphant campaign in the IPL 2023. The elegant right-hander amassed 590 runs in the season at an impressive average of 42.14 and a strike rate of 147.50. His performance played a significant part in CSK clinching the IPL title.
A week after their wedding, Gaikwad shared pictures from the engagement ceremony on his Instagram account with a caption “Utkarsha being part of my life and my journey right from the start knew exactly About the Important Aspects of my Life,”
The couple looked resplendent in traditional South Indian attire, showcasing their love and respect for the Chennai culture and its people. Gaikwad revealed in the caption of his Instagram post that his wife Utkarsha specifically wanted to pay homage to the supporters from Chennai who played a crucial role in Gaikwad’s early IPL career and helped him find his footing in the tournament.
“She decided to dedicate the entire traditional Maharashtrian engagement to The Chennai People and the South culture Because of The importance of that city and what Chennai Super Kings Have done to my Life! Indeed it turned out to be really really Special !! I love you ! Utkarsha,” Gaikwad added.
Gaikwad’s life and career have seen a remarkable transformation since his debut for CSK in the IPL back in 2020. After a slow start, Gaikwad turned the tide with three consecutive half-centuries, following a string of low scores in the first six games of the season. In 2021, he became the Orange Cap winner, awarded to the tournament’s leading run-scorer, and lifted the IPL trophy for the first time in his career.
