IND vs ZIM: Ruturaj Gaikwad Is Someone If He Gets Five Games In A Row, He Is Going To Perform – Robin Uthappa

The 37-year-old India National Cricket Team batter Robin Uthappa has said that his Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad is the kind of player who can perform very well “if he gets five games in a row”.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against the Zimbabwe National Cricket Team that will be played on August 18, 20 and 22 in Harare. However, in the presence of Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and in-form Shubman Gill, he will most likely not play the first couple of games.

Speaking at a media interaction organised by Sony, Uthappa said that Ruturaj Gaikwad takes some games before delivering consistent performance with the bat. He elaborated:

“One has to understand that the IPL is one of the best tournaments in the world. But you also have to understand that Ruturaj is someone who has grown into each position. Even when he made his debut in the IPL, it took him a few games before he came into his own.”

“Unfortunately with the Indian team, he is not getting those number of games because he is a little bit of a feeler as far as a person is concerned. As far as being a person is concerned. He feels his way around things and he’s very attuned to his feelings.

“Rutu is someone if he gets five games in a row, he is going to perform and then you will feel like here is a player who can play all three formats for the country and how do we invest in him.”

He needs to get a longer run – Robin Uthappa on Sanju Samson

Veteran Indian batter further said that the in-form wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson would be a better bet for the wicket-keeper’s spot in the playing XI in the absence of Rishabh Pant and he needs to be given a longer rope by team management. He said:

“Ideally, I think Sanju Samson would be a better bet. Also the kind of form he is in and I think just the way he has performed and the potential he has got. We used to talk about Sanju’s potential in the past and playing up to his potential.

“In the recent past, we have seen whenever he has got an opportunity he has played to his potential. He needs to get a longer run and taking nothing away from Ishan, when Sanju gets a longer run you will definitely get a player for the future in him.”

India’s squad for 3 ODIs: KL Rahul (captain) Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Mohd Siraj and Deepak Chahar.

Also Read: IND vs ZIM: Deepak Hooda To Achieve This Milestone If India Win First Two ODIs Against Zimbabwe