Slowest Fifty In IPL 2026! Ruturaj Gaikwad's 49-Ball Half-Century Sets New Record

Ruturaj Gaikwad vs GT. [Source - AP]

It was a very difficult stay for Ruturaj Gaikwad and CSK against Gujarat Titans on a hot Chennai afternoon, as the visitors came out firing, especially their pacers, reducing CSK to three early wickets inside the powerplay with relentless pressure.

Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, opening the innings, had been struggling for form, averaging just 14.85 in seven innings this season, and was forced into a cautious approach, holding one end firmly as wickets kept tumbling regularly at the other under intense scoreboard pressure.

With CSK reeling at 37 for 4, including the dismissals of key batters like Sanju Samson and Dewald Brevis, Gaikwad and Shivam Dube stitched a steady stand, but his eventual half-century in 49 balls placed him among the slowest in IPL record books.

Ruturaj Gaikwad hits slowest fifty of IPL 2026 in CSK vs GT clash

Ruturaj Gaikwad finally registered his first half-century of the IPL 2026 season, but it came the hard way for the CSK skipper. His fifty came in 49 balls, making it the slowest in IPL 2026 so far.

Notably, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which made things difficult for Gaikwad at the crease. Gujarat Titans’ pacers maintained tight lines and lengths, not allowing him to free his arms, forcing him to focus more on survival than scoring quickly.

Slowest 50s in IPL 2026

This 49-ball fifty of Ruturaj Gaikwad now sits at the top of the slowest fifties list this season, ahead of Rishabh Pant’s 43-ball fifty against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad and Mitchell Marsh’s 39-ball effort against Rajasthan Royals in Lucknow.

Also Read: Sanju Samson The New Mr IPL? CSK Opener Shatters Suresh Raina's Historic IPL Feat

Ruturaj Gaikwad enters CSK’s all-time slowest fifty list in IPL

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 49-ball fifty was not just the slowest of this season, it also entered the all-time record list for CSK. His knock against Gujarat Titans in MA Chidambaram Stadium is now among the slowest in franchise history.

Slowest 50s for CSK in IPL

The slowest fifty for CSK still belongs to Parthiv Patel, who scored a 53-ball half-century against Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in Chennai in 2010. The next on the line is former Australian opener Matthew Hayden’s 51-ball effort against Mumbai Indians in Gqeberha in 2009.

Murali Vijay appears twice on the list with 50 and 49-ball fifties in IPL 2013, while Dwayne Smith also recorded a 49-ball knock back in 2014 against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium. Gaikwad now joins them, his innings becoming the joint fourth slowest fifty for CSK in IPL history.

Also Read: Watch- Dewald Brevis Turns Saim Ayub As No-Look Wicket Humbles CSK's Baby AB

Gaikwad’s sluggish yet gritty knock lifts CSK to a fighting total vs GT

After a disastrous start with wickets falling regularly, CSK needed someone to stand tall, and Ruturaj Gaikwad did exactly that. Despite struggling early, he anchored the innings and guided his side to a respectable 158 for 7 in 20 overs.

He was once crawling at 20 off 36 balls at the halfway stage before shifting gears late in the innings. Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 74 off 60 balls, a knock that may look slow but proved crucial in helping CSK recover from a difficult position.

Follow CSK Vs GT Live Updates On CREX To Keep Yourself Up To Date In IPL 2026