Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to make his mark in the Indian ODI setup once again, with captain KL Rahul indicating a strong possibility of his inclusion in the upcoming series against South Africa. Gaikwad, who has not played an ODI for India in approximately two years, has been rewarded for his consistent batting form in the 50-over format, particularly during the India A versus South Africa A List-A encounters. The skipper expressed confidence in Gaikwad’s abilities, describing him as a “top-class” cricketer.
At a press conference in Ranchi, Rahul discussed Gaikwad’s potential role. “Ruturaj Gaikwad is, obviously, a top-class player; we have all seen it with whatever opportunities, limited opportunities he has got, he’s really utilised it and shown what he can do,” he said. Rahul acknowledged the challenge of breaking into India’s currently well-established top-five or six ODI batters, who have been performing exceptionally. “Unfortunately, in ODI cricket, the top six or the top five is quite settled and they are performing really well. So you feel bad for players not getting enough opportunities,” he commented.
The absence of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer due to injuries has created openings in the squad. This presents a golden chance for Gaikwad, alongside other emerging talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, to showcase their skills. “He will get his opportunity at some stage, and yeah, looking forward to giving him that chance and letting him show what he can do and do the job for the team,” Rahul elaborated, hinting at potential squad rotation given the lack of an immediate ICC ODI tournament. Rahul, while maintaining suspense about the full lineup for the opening ODI, confirmed he would bat at number six.