It’s 8:48 PM IST on April 1, 2025, and I’m perched in my Pune armchair, the city’s evening hum a soft backdrop as I unravel Ruturaj Gaikwad’s tale. At 28, he’s no mere cricketer—he’s a maestro with a bat, captaining Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Maharashtra, his 123* T20I ton against Australia still ringing in my ears. From seven sixes in an over to an Asian Games gold, his 2025 glows—leading CSK into IPL 2025 with INR 18 crore in his pocket. I’ve tracked him since his 2021 Orange Cap, and this isn’t just a bio—it’s his symphony.
Born in Pune’s cricketing cradle, Ruturaj’s journey blends technique and tenacity. It’s raw, real—the runs, the romance rumors, the relentless rise. He’s not just a batsman; he’s a captain crafting his legacy, one elegant stroke at a time. Let’s dive into Ruturaj Gaikwad’s world—where every innings hums, every milestone sings.
Early Life: A Pune Prodigy with Big Dreams
Ruturaj Dashrat Gaikwad landed on January 31, 1997, in Pune, Maharashtra—a city where cricket’s heartbeat thumps loud. His dad, Dashrath, a DRDO employee, and mom, Sawita, a municipal school teacher, built a home valuing books over boundaries. “I’d sneak a bat into class,” he chuckled on Star Sports in 2024. Raised in Pargaon Memane, then Sangvi, he was a joint-family kid—cousins, chaos, and a backyard stump.
At 12, Vengsarkar Cricket Academy spotted his spark. “He’d outscore everyone,” coach Dilip Vengsarkar told Hindustan Times. School at St. Joseph’s Boys High balanced studies and shots—by 16, he was Maharashtra’s U-19 star. “Cricket chose me,” he said on Aaj Tak. Pune’s lanes birthed a dreamer; the crease called him home.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: Updated Personal Details (April 1, 2025)
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ruturaj Dashrat Gaikwad |
| Date of Birth | January 31, 1997 |
| Age | 28 years |
| Birthplace | Pune, Maharashtra, India |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | Approx. 150 lbs (68 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Marital Status | Married to Utkarsha Pawar (June 3, 2023) |
| Family | Father: Dashrath Gaikwad; Mother: Sawita Gaikwad |
| Net Worth | Estimated ₹25–30 crore (2025) |
| Education | St. Joseph’s Boys High School, Pune |
| Occupation | Cricketer (Right-handed batsman, Right-arm off-break bowler) |
| Notable Achievements | IPL Orange Cap 2021, Asian Games gold 2023, T20I century vs Australia |
| Current Residence | Sangvi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Social Media | Instagram: @ruutu.131 (4.9 M followers); Twitter: @Ruutu1331 (200K followers) |
Cricket’s First Notes: Domestic Debuts and Breakthroughs
October 6, 2016—Ruturaj’s Ranji Trophy debut for Maharashtra vs. Tamil Nadu. A duck, an injury—rough start. “I limped off, but I’d begun,” he told Cricbuzz. February 2, 2017—List A bow vs. Kerala, 30 runs. Vijay Hazare Trophy 2016–17—444 runs, third-highest scorer. “He flowed,” MS Dhoni later said on Star Sports. T20 debut—January 31, 2017, vs. Tripura—quiet, but a spark.
2018–19 Syed Mushtaq Ali—highest run-getter for Maharashtra. India A call-up—187* vs. Sri Lanka A, 2019. “I felt it click,” he told ESPNcricinfo. Pune’s prodigy was no fluke—his bat sang, selectors listened. Domestic cricket wasn’t just a stage; it was his proving ground.
IPL Stardom: From CSK Bench to Captain’s Crown
2019—CSK nabbed Ruturaj for ₹20 lakh. “A punt,” coach Stephen Fleming grinned on IPL T20. No games, just dugout lessons—Dhoni’s shadow loomed. 2020—debut vs. Rajasthan Royals, September 22. Covid hit pre-season; he roared back—204 runs, three fifties in six games. “He’s gold,” Dhoni nodded post-match.
2021—Orange Cap, 635 runs, 16 matches—101* vs. Rajasthan Royals. CSK’s fourth title—his anchor role key. Retained for ₹6 crore in 2022, then INR 18 crore for IPL 2025. March 21, 2024—Dhoni handed him CSK’s reins. “A shock, an honor,” he told Times of India. At 28, he’s CSK’s stylish skipper.
International Rise: From Sri Lanka to Asian Gold
July 28, 2021—Ruturaj’s T20I debut vs. Sri Lanka in Colombo. A duck, but a start. October 6, 2022—ODI bow vs. South Africa—19 runs. June 2022—maiden T20I fifty vs. South Africa, 57 off 35. September 2023—71 in ODIs vs. Australia, his first fifty. November 28, 2023—123* vs. Australia, T20I ton—first Indian to do it against them.
July 2023—Asian Games T20I captain. Gold medal, unbeaten run. “Proudest moment,” he posted on Insta—1.5M cheered. Vice-captain vs. Australia, Ireland—he’s climbed fast. “He’s calm, lethal,” Rahul Dravid told Aaj Tak. At 28, Ruturaj’s India story’s just begun.
2025 Spotlight: CSK Captaincy and Beyond
April 1, 2025—Ruturaj’s prepping for IPL 2025, retained at INR 18 crore. CSK’s fifth-place finish in 2024 stung; he’s hungry for a sixth title. “We’ll roar,” he vowed on IPL T20. Vijay Hazare 2024—three tons, 660 runs—still the tournament’s century king (12). Maharashtra Premier League—Puneri Bappa captain, ₹14.8 crore deal since 2023.
India’s white-ball squads snubbed him post-December 2023—Ravichandran Ashwin blamed “selection quirks” on X. Yet, his bat’s loud—2,380 IPL runs, two centuries. “I’ll keep scoring,” he told Cricbuzz. At 28, he’s not just CSK’s face—he’s India’s next big hope.
Affairs and Relationships: Love Off the Pitch
Ruturaj’s heart? Utkarsha Pawar’s domain. A cricketer herself—Maharashtra women’s team—they met at Vengsarkar Academy. “She gets me,” he said on Star Sports, 2024. Dating since 2018, engaged April 2023—ring pics flooded Insta. June 3, 2023—Pune wedding, Maharashtrian flair. “My anchor,” he captioned her sari shot.
Utkarsha Pawar, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s wife, is a cricketer herself, born October 13, 1998, in Pune. A right-arm pace bowler and all-rounder, she’s represented Maharashtra in domestic cricket since age 11, idolizing Zaheer Khan. “Cricket’s my life,” she told a Marathi podcast in 2023, vowing to play post-marriage with full support from Ruturaj and family. They met via Instagram, wed June 3, 2023, in Mahabaleshwar—days after CSK’s IPL win. She balances books and bat while studying at Pune’s Institute of Nutrition and Fitness Sciences. At 26, Utkarsha’s often at Ruturaj’s games, their shared passion a quiet strength.
Pre-Utkarsha? Whispers—Sayali Sanjeev, Marathi actress, 2020. Dinner pics sparked buzz; both laughed it off. “Friends,” Sayali posted. No flings since—just Utkarsha. “Cricket and her,” he told Times of India. At 28, he’s settled—love’s his steady cover drive.
Controversies: Selection Snubs and Silent Grit
December 2023—Ruturaj’s last India game, vs. South Africa. 2024—ODI, T20I squads skipped him. X flared—#JusticeForRuturaj, 100K tweets. “Why?” fans raged—his 123* forgotten? Ashwin’s X take: “Form’s fine, politics isn’t.” Cricbuzz speculated IPL captaincy focus—CSK’s fifth place didn’t help.
2021—Covid hit pre-IPL; he played through. No tantrums, just runs. “He’s too calm for drama,” teammate Shivam Dube told News18. Selection’s the storm; Ruturaj’s the eye—quiet, unyielding. “My bat’ll talk,” he posted, March 2025. Controversy? It’s others’ noise—he’s all action.
Rumors and Whispers: The Gossip Crease
Rumors trail Ruturaj like bouncers. 2022—“CSK rift” with Dhoni. Nonsense—he idolizes “Thala,” per Hindustan Times. 2023—Sayali link fizzled; “pregnancy” buzz pre-wedding—Utkarsha laughed on Insta: “Just ladoos!” 2024—“IPL fatigue” after fifth place. “I’m hungrier,” he shot back on X.
“Dropped for attitude”? Rubbish—Dhoni praised his brain on Star Sports. 2025—“retirement” whispers post-snubs. “I’m 28!” he grinned on Aaj Tak. Gossip’s loud; Ruturaj’s louder—1.5M Insta fans see a man batting rumors away, one classy stroke at a time.
Technique and Triumph: The Gaikwad Groove
Ruturaj’s a technician—right-handed, fluid. “He’s silk,” Dhoni said on IPL T20. Backfoot play, deft touches—modern power’s not his game. Vijay Hazare 2022—seven sixes off Shiva Singh, a record. “Felt easy,” he told ESPNcricinfo. IPL 2024—590 runs, strike rate 147.50—CSK’s fifth title owed him plenty.
T20I 123*—57 balls, 13 fours, 7 sixes. “Timing’s my power,” he told Cricbuzz. Rare off-breaks—two wickets, fun quirk. “He’s Kohli-esque,” Gautam Gambhir mused on Star Sports. At 5’9”, 68 kg, he’s lean—yoga, sprints keep him sharp. Ruturaj’s bat? It’s poetry in motion.
Personal Life: Roots, Rings, and Resilience
Pune’s his soul—Sangvi flat, family close. “Dad’s my rock,” he told Aaj Tak—Dashrath’s DRDO days, Sawita’s lessons shaped him. No siblings—just cousins, chaos. Utkarsha’s his peace—married life’s new. “She cooks better,” he grinned on Kapil Sharma. Net worth? ₹25–30 crore—IPL, MPL, grit.
“Tennis relaxes me,” he posted, March 2025—1.5M Insta fans adore. Pargaon Memane visits—village roots run deep. “I’m still Rutu,” he told Hindustan Times. At 28, he’s fame’s son—balancing captaincy, love, and a bat that won’t quit.
FAQs About Ruturaj Gaikwad
1. What’s Ruturaj Gaikwad’s latest 2025 milestone?
Retained by CSK for IPL 2025 at INR 18 crore—captaincy intact, chasing a sixth title.
2. Why’s he out of India’s squads?
Post-December 2023, selectors snubbed him—Ashwin hints at politics, despite his 123* T20I ton.
3. Who’s he married to?
Utkarsha Pawar—Maharashtra cricketer, wed June 3, 2023. No flings since.
4. What’s his net worth?
Estimated ₹25–30 crore—IPL, MPL, and domestic pay fuel it.
5. Any IPL 2025 goals?
Leading CSK to a sixth title—after 2024’s fifth place, he’s “hungrier,” per IPL T20.
Final Thoughts: Ruturaj’s Unfinished Symphony
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s no fleeting star—he’s a melody building to a crescendo. From Pune’s dust to CSK’s throne, he’s stacked runs—2,380 IPL, 12 Vijay Hazare tons—and led with grace. 2025’s his stage—INR 18 crore, Asian gold, a T20I 123*. I’ve cheered his rise, awed by his calm—selection snubs can’t dim him. He’s not just a cricketer; he’s a captain mid-verse—technique, tenacity, and a heart that hums. Ruturaj’s next note? I’m betting it’s a Test debut—Pune’s son deserves it.