Ruturaj Gaikwad’s T20 World Cup 2026 hopes reignite after historic milestone

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad achieved a massive milestone during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 match between Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir in Kolkata on Wednesday, November 26. The right-handed batter became the second-fastest Indian to complete 5000 runs in the format.

Ruturaj was dismissed after scoring just 6 runs off 8 balls, including one boundary, during Maharashtra's opening match in the T20 tournament. The skipper came to the crease after Prithvi Shaw's dismissal. Rutu failed to score big in the match but he completed his 5000 runs in the 20-over format of the game.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Completes 5,000 Runs in the T20 Format

Ruturaj Gaikwad entered the match four runs shy of 5000 runs in the format. The right-handed batter took 145 innings to get to the milestone and became the second-quickest Indian in T20 history to do so. Gaikwad surpassed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in the list of fastest Indians to score 5000 runs.

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KL Rahul tops the Indian charts for being the quickest to 5,000 T20 runs, reaching the landmark in just 143 innings. Only Chris Gayle has achieved the feat faster, having taken 132 innings to reach the milestone.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Becomes Fourth-Fastest to Reach 5000 Runs in T20s

Chris Gayle is the fastest batter to reach 5,000 T20 runs. The West Indian legend remains the format’s highest run-scorer with 14,562 runs, including an incredible 22 centuries and 88 fifties.

KL Rahul became the quickest Indian to reach the landmark. He took 143 innings to cross 5,000 T20 runs and now has over 8,000 runs with an impressive average of 42.53.

Shaun Marsh and Devon Conway reached 5,000 T20 runs in 144 innings. Marsh finished his career with 7,050 runs, while Conway has scored more than 6,800 runs so far. Ruturaj became the fourth fastest to reach the milestone among batters across the world.

Ruturaj Gaikwad Recalled to India Squad for ODI Series Against South Africa

Ruturaj Gaikwad recently earned a recall to India’s ODI squad for the home series against South Africa. He last played an ODI for the national team in December 2023, where he scored four runs against the Proteas in Gqeberha.

Ruturaj delivered impressive performances for India A in the recent three-match one-day series against South Africa A. He scored 210 runs in three innings, finishing as the top run-getter. The batter struck 117 in the opening match and was named Player of the Series.

So far, Gaikwad has played six ODIs for India. The right-handed batter has scored 115 runs at an average of 19.16. The selectors have now given him another opportunity to prove himself at the international level.

Skipper Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer are unavailable as they are recovering from their respective injuries. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has been appointed stand-in captain for the three ODIs. The series begins on November 30 in Ranchi.

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