Ruturaj Gaikwad has strengthened his case for a permanent place in India's ODI team with consistent performances in both domestic and international cricket. His ability to score runs under pressure and adapt to different situations has highlighted his value as a reliable middle-order batter for India's future plans.
The ongoing Tri-Nation A Series in Sri Lanka has provided another opportunity for Gaikwad to impress. He joined the India A squad as a replacement for the injured Riyan Parag and was named vice-captain of the side. Batting at No. 4, Gaikwad has been entrusted with a key role in the middle order in the tournament.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Consistent Run-scorer Across Domestic Cricket
Ruturaj Gaikwad made an immediate impact in India A's opening match against Sri Lanka A. He came to the crease with the team in trouble at 16/2 and responded with a composed 101 off 114 balls. Gaikwad added a crucial 150-run partnership with Tilak Varma that laid the foundation for India's victory.
The right-hander carried his form into the next game against Afghanistan A, scoring 66 off 80 deliveries. He once again shared a 78-run stand with Tilak Varma as India A posted 349/9. However, Afghanistan A secured a narrow win through DLS.
After two matches in the Tri-Nation A Series, Gaikwad has scored 167 runs at an average of 83.50. His century against Sri Lanka A was his 21st List A hundred, making him the fastest batter in the world to reach the milestone, achieving the feat in just 96 matches.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's Outstanding List A Record
Ruturaj Gaikwad has built an outstanding record in List A cricket and currently holds the highest batting average in the format's history at 59.32. He has scored 5,160 runs in 96 innings, including 21 centuries and 19 half-centuries in 50-over cricket.
His average of 59.32 is higher than those of ODI greats Virat Kohli (57.91) and Michael Bevan (57.86). Gaikwad is also joint-sixth on the list for the most List A centuries, alongside Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir.
Gaikwad has been especially dominant when batting first. In 48 innings, he averages 62.51 and has scored 13 centuries, showing his ability to build big scores and set up strong totals for his team.
One of his most memorable innings came in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, when he scored 220 runs for Maharashtra against Uttar Pradesh. During that knock, he famously hit seven sixes in a single over bowled by Shiva Singh.
Perfect Solution to India's Search for a Reliable Middle-order Backup
Ruturaj Gaikwad has played nine ODIs for India, scoring 228 runs at an average of 28.50 in eight innings. One of his best performances came against Australia in Mohali, where he scored 71 off 77 balls while opening the batting alongside Shubman Gill.
His numbers are even more impressive in the middle order. Batting between No. 4 and No. 7, Gaikwad averages 56.50 at a strike rate of 116.49, including his maiden ODI century of 105 off 83 balls against South Africa in Raipur.
Gaikwad's ability to rotate strike, build partnerships, and handle pressure makes him a valuable option in the middle order. While India already have players such as Shreyas Iyer, Riyan Parag, and Tilak Varma in contention, Gaikwad's consistency and versatility make him a strong backup option for the ODI side.
