India ODI squad for SA: Ruturaj Gaikwad hat-trick of centuries – 136, 154* and 124 — this is what Ruturaj Gaikwad’s last three scores look like. That he is in his dream run of form in white-ball cricket will be an understatement. On Saturday, the Chennai Super Kings star led Maharashtra from the front with a 129-ball 124 against Kerala, once again sending a reminder to the selectors of what he is capable of ahead of ODI team selection for South Africa tour. Follow Vijay Hazare Trophy and India Tour of South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
It was IPL 2021 that gave him confidence. After failing in the first two innings in the IPL 2021, Ruturaj Gaikwad never looked back. Supported by CSK coach Stephen Flemming and skipper MS Dhoni, Gaikwad not only retained his place in the playing XI, he formed a formidable opening partnership with Faf du Plessis.
India ODI squad for SA: Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes hat-trick of centuries in Hazare, will selectors pick him for South Africa tour?
With 635 runs in 16 matches, he led CSK to their 4th IPL title. He carried on his form where he exactly left it. In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he smashed three consecutive half-centuries. While he was picked for New Zealand T20 series, he didn’t get a chance to showcase his talent having wasted a chance in Sri Lanka. But the experience he gained from working under Rahul Dravid, he utilised that in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Wake Up ✅
Pad Up ✅
R🦁AR ✅RUTeen Status: 💯#VijayHazareTrophy #WhistlePodu 💛 pic.twitter.com/HirbDAhDEm
— Chennai Super Kings – Mask P😷du Whistle P🥳du! (@ChennaiIPL) December 11, 2021
With three centuries in the first three matches, he is now the tournament’s top scorer 414 runs in just three innings and is on track to surpass Prithvi Shaw (827) and Devdutt Padikkal’s (737) record of most runs in a Vijay Hazare Trophy.
India ODI squad for SA: Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes hat-trick of centuries in Hazare, will selectors pick him for South Africa tour?
Ruturaj Gaikwad in 2021:
IPL 2021: 635 runs in 16 matches @ 45.35
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: 259 runs in 5 matches @ 51.80
Vijay Hazare Trophy: 414 runs in three matches
- vs Madhya Pradesh: 136
- vs Chhattisgarh: 154*
- vs Kerala: 124
As the selectors will meet again to pick the ODI squad for South Africa tour in the coming weeks, leaving out Ruturaj Gaikwad will be a difficu
lt task. However, given his role in the top-order, Gaikwad’s place will not be guaranteed since he has a huge competition ahead of him. The only way, he can get a chance is if either of KL Rahul, skipper Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli gets injured.
India ODI squad for SA: Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes hat-trick of centuries in Hazare, will selectors pick him for South Africa tour?
His run-scoring spree explains why Chennai Super Kings decided to retain him ahead of the likes of Faf du Plessis and other senior members of the squad. Former India opener Aakash Chopra put it correctly.
“Ruturaj Gaikwad is CSK’s today and India’s tomorrow. He has been my favourite player. This is the first time that the Orange Cap and Emerging player award went to the same player. He just topped everything,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
India ODI squad for SA: Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes hat-trick of centuries in Hazare, will selectors pick him for South Africa tour?
