Better than Virat Kohli and Michael Bevan, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s List A average gets closer to 60 with 66 vs AFG A

Amid ODI squad snub, Ruturaj Gaikwad is piling on runs in the tri-series in Sri Lanka. For India A, he followed up the century against Sri Lanka A with a half-century against Afghanistan A on June 11 in Dambulla. Gaikwad has extended his record over others for best average in List A cricket (including ODIs, domestic cricket, A team’s One-Day games). His average is now inching closer to 60, the highest among batters with minimum of 50 innings in List A cricket or 5,000 runs. 

Gaikwad now averages 59.39 with 5,221 runs including 21 centuries and 20 half-centuries. He is ahead of ODI's second-highest run-scorer of all-time, Virat Kohli. The former India captain averages 57.91 in List A cricket, just ahead of Australia's legendary finisher Michael Bevan who retired with a List A average of 57.86.

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Which batter is a threat to Gaikwad’s List A average record?

However, Gaikwad's record for highest List A cricket average is threatened by Devdutt Padikkal. The Karnataka batter who is yet to make his ODI debut, has an average of 82.23. From 41 innings, he has 2,796 runs, including 13 centuries and 14 fifties.

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India A post daunting total

Compared to the previous game, Gaikwad arrived at the crease at a better stage. India A were 88/2 when Priyansh Arya lost his wicket. Gaikwad played second fiddle to opener Prabhsimran Singh who scored 84 runs from 69 deliveries. Then, Gaikwad shared a 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket to skipper Tilak Varma. Gaikwad got out trying to take aerial route against Farmanullah Safi in the 38th over. He departed after scoring 66 runs from 80 balls, including three fours.

After Gaikwad's wicket, Ayush Badoni was dismissed for a golden duck. In the slog overs, Suryansh Shedge's 27-ball 40 and a few boundaries from Anukul Roy and Vipraj Nigam helped India A post 349/9 on the board.

Jaiswal picked ahead of Gaikwad as Kohli’s replacement

Virat Kohli got ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series due to a hamstring injury he picked up during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final. He has been replaced by opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the squad instead of Gaikwad who scored a century in his previous ODI innings against South Africa in December 2025.

Earlier, Gaikwad wasn’t even a part of the India A’s squad. He was called up when Riyan Parag was ruled out due to injury.