Precisely seven years in the past, on January 30 2018, Shubman Gill was hitting an unbeaten century for India Beneath-19 in an enormous victory in opposition to Pakistan Beneath-19 within the semifinals of the World Cup. An India vs Pakistan match attracts viewers from throughout, however there was one thing completely different about one man who tuned in from the West Indies. He had no subcontinental allegiances, he was only a cricket nerd. With one distinction: this cricket nerd had already made his first-class debut for Guyana, and January 30, 2018 was the eve of his Checklist A debut. And but, Sherfane Rutherford was watching Gill bat. It’s what he does.
Rutherford is the cricket nuffie in all of us who dreamed of enjoying the game he beloved for a residing – besides, he made that dream come true.
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“I at all times watch cricket. Once I’m dwelling, I’ve my Willow (subscription). Once I’m on tour, I’ve my firestick. I watch each cricket,” Rutherford informed TimesofIndia.com from Dubai, the place he’s enjoying for Desert Vipers within the ILT20. “Yesterday, I used to be watching BPL, I used to be watching the Sri Lanka vs Australia Check, I used to be watching the South Africa T20. I’m at all times into cricket. All codecs. It’s vital for me to look at a variety of cricket as a result of I study loads from watching. I don’t actually watch another sport. As quickly as I get up, I change on cricket and I’m watching and analysing.”
All that obsessive watching has meant Rutherford has discovered extra about his personal sport. It’s led to a outstanding previous 12 months. In ODIs in 2024, Rutherford averaged a shocking 106.25 at a strike-rate of over 120 in 9 video games. And in T20 matches in 2025, he has a mean of 53.66 at a strike fee touching 183 from 10 video games. He had at all times proven spark ever since he burst onto the scene barely out of his teenagers, however he has now discovered a zone that’s formidable.
“I believe crucial factor for me was after I bought again into the West Indies staff (simply over a 12 months in the past). Once I placed on my West Indies colors, it makes me really feel like a cricketer once more,” Rutherford stated. “The important thing for me was ‘Am I going to play cricket my complete life and be a mean individual?’ Once I requested myself that query, I began to be extra constant in coaching. My preparation is healthier now, I’ve a routine I observe. It was vital for me to be extra disciplined. I’m not simply enjoying, I’m doing extra behind the scenes.”
Rutherford’s outlook and preparation have modified drastically now. “I prepare on a regular basis. Even on sport days, I’m going to the health club and do a number of workout routines. I’m going to the bottom earlier than the sport begins as properly and have a internet session. Even with my food regimen, I attempt to eat higher.”
One of many catalysts for that exact change started in 2022, when he was enjoying for RCB within the IPL, and observing Virat Kohli.
“One factor I discovered from Virat is that even while you’re not performing, you must work onerous. Despite the fact that he wasn’t having the most effective time in worldwide cricket then, he nonetheless hit the health club onerous, he nonetheless ready proper, he went to the nets from begin to finish… For me earlier, if I used to be not performing, I used to be like, ‘I don’t want to coach.’ However I realised it’s not going to simply occur, it’s about how dangerous you need it. And even when it’s not occurring, you continue to have to verify your course of is correct, your preparation is correct. That was a standout for me.”
That was the final 12 months wherein Rutherford performed a number of video games within the IPL. Since then he’s been a part of groups, with out getting game-time. However given the 12 months he’s had, that’s prone to change come IPL 2025, when he hyperlinks up with Gujarat Titans. Enjoying alongside Gill. It’s a second Rutherford has been ready for, ever since he first noticed Gill seven years in the past.
“I’m an enormous fan of Shubman Gill. I noticed when he scored 100 within the U19 World Cup, and I’ve been following him since then,” he stated. “I’m excited to play with him. He’s younger, he’s thrilling, he takes the world by storm. Undoubtedly wanting ahead to this 12 months. I’ve been on the IPL for 5 years however I haven’t performed a lot. I believe this 12 months is an effective alternative for me. I’m in a greater house now, I’ve discovered a number of issues about my sport and added some issues to my repertoire. Can not wait to get going.”
Rutherford is such an in-demand participant worldwide due to how he has cracked batting at, and round, No.6 — one of many hardest positions in T20 cricket. It’s a change that started a 12 months and a bit in the past, when he turned a West Indies common.
“Once I bought into the West Indies staff, Daren Sammy (head coach) and Floyd Reifer (assistant coach) at all times backed me, giving me the boldness to simply go and carry out, to again my sport and simply be assured,” Rutherford stated. “One factor I discovered about my sport is that I’m a participant who could make up (the run-rate). Even when the scenario is hard, I discovered I may give myself a while. Even when I don’t get the beginning I need, I can at all times make up. I began to have a look at bowlers as properly, and select the bowlers I can tackle. As soon as I’m set, I can tackle any bowler.”
A sensible instance of that occurred in West Indies’ league sport in opposition to New Zealand within the T20 World Cup in June 2024. West Indies have been 91 for 7 in 15 overs, and 112 for 9 in 18, however the primary bowlers had all completed their quotas. Rutherford went from 31* off 27 to 68* off 39, dealing with the whole thing of the final two overs and taking Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner for 37 runs. West Indies ultimately received by simply 13 runs.
“It’s a tricky place,” Rutherford stated of batting within the decrease center order. “Both you are available to take the sport on otherwise you are available when it’s a tricky scenario. The secret is to adapt. If it’s within the again finish I attempt to give myself a number of balls after which go. If it’s early, I attempt to bat as correctly as I can, hit the gaps, run singles. I believe for me the extra I run, the extra I sweat, the extra I begin to get the momentum, I begin to get the move even higher.”
In his newest stint with the Vipers too, Rutherford has been in fantastic contact. It’s helped that the staff itself has been doing spectacularly properly, having already sealed a top-two end and playoff spot. However, as Rutherford factors out, it’s not as if the staff surroundings was a harsh place once they didn’t have the identical success in earlier years.
“It’s not solely about efficiency, it’s about gamers’ consolation. Final 12 months we didn’t have 12 months, but it surely didn’t really feel like I used to be below stress. There was at all times help from coach (James) Foster. Tom Moody is at all times on the facet to simply ensure everyone seems to be snug. They’re nice cricketing heads, so that they perceive that there are going to be good days and dangerous days. Many of the profitable groups are about gamers’ being snug and the workers supporting gamers, whether or not they carry out or not. Even when one participant is having a foul time, everybody will get round him. That’s the place groups carry the most effective out of themselves.”
Identical to the staff, Rutherford is actually getting the most effective out of himself for now.
(This story is authored by Saurabh Somani who’s a Pondicherry-based freelance cricket author. In his spare time, he watches the sport anyway.)
