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Ruturaj Gaikwad will be spearheading the Indian pack in the upcoming Asian Games which is scheduled to be played between September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China. The batting sensation Gaikwad however feels captaining a side is a complicated task but to make things easier he is drawing inspiration from his CSK skipper, the legendary M.S. Dhoni.
Gaikwad, chosen to captain a young Indian squad in Hangzhou, realises the challenges he's up against. With the primary Indian team engrossed in World Cup preparations simultaneously, Gaikwad reflects on leadership. He says, "Leadership role is a very complicated thing to be honest. What Mahi bhai (Dhoni) always says is to take it one game at a time, don’t worry about the future."
While the cricketing world might create a lot of hype, Gaikwad prefers to keep things simple and focuses on his game. "Everyone creates hype and whatever it is. I am not the kind of person who tracks social media and hear things about what anyone is saying about me," he shared, emphasizing how his time at CSK has influenced this perspective.
His form in the recent T20s against Ireland, particularly his stellar 58 off 43 balls, speaks volumes about his determination. Analyzing his performance, Gaikwad noted the challenges presented by the damp wicket, "Being an opener I have the luxury to eat up some balls upfront, 10-15 balls and come back and cover."
Considering he doesn't get regular playing time, the series against Ireland holds special importance for him. He acknowledges the blend of confidence and preparation while hinting at the challenges of making it to the main team due to the strong batting lineup.
Also making a mark was IPL sensation Rinku Singh. His debut in the first T20 showcased his prowess with a quick 38 off 21 balls. Gaikwad couldn't hold back his appreciation. "He has already become everyone's favourite in the IPL. The way he has batted this year he has shown a lot of maturity... He gives himself time, assesses the conditions and then attacks... He knows when to pull that trigger. It was an important innings for him," Gaikwad concluded, clearly impressed.
India's squad for Asian Games
Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wicket-keeper)
Standby players: Yash Thakur, Sai Kishore, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Sai Sudarsan
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