Indian star batter Ruturaj Gaikwad who is currently playing in the T20I series against Zimbabwe opened up on batting at Virat Kohli's position in the shortest format of the game. Team India are still looking for a batter who can bat at number three for the T20Is as Kohli announced his retirement from the T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. Gaikwad who is currently batting at number three in the ongoing series said that it is very tough to fill in Kohli's shoes.
However, the young batter was in lethal form in the second T20I where he scored 77 runs of 47 balls which helped India to score a mammoth of 234 runs in 20 overs. Gaikwad-led side won the gold medal in Asian Games 2023.
Ruturaj Gaikwad for Virat Kohli
"This is a big topic and I think it's not the right point to think about it. To even compare with him (Kohli) or try to fill in his shoes is relatively very tough and very hard," Gaikwad said on the eve of the third T20I against Zimbabwe.
"As I had said in the IPL as well, it is difficult to fill my best shoes as well. Definitely, you want to start your career, you want to start the way you want, you want to play your own game. So that's the priority right now.
"Focus on one game, focus on how you can contribute towards the team in whichever position you play and make sure you are on the winning side more often than not."
The Pune-born cricketer said that he can bat at any position according to the team's preference.
"No, wherever the team wants, I will bat there. There is no problem. There is not much difference between the opening and the number 3 because you have to play the new ball. So there is not much difference," he said.
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Ruturaj Gaikwad for Indian Premier League
Gaikwad led the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year and he said captaincy has made him to get more involved in the game though it didn't make any difference to his batting.
"Actually, to be honest, nothing has changed much. Because my batting has been the same as before. I have to play with responsibility and try and finish it on my own," he said.
"It's just that the way you look at the game, I think every time you are more involved now in the game since you have captained the IPL franchise for a long period of time.
"So you tend to be into the game for a longer period of time instead of just staying in the boundary outside and just focusing on one ball. As I said, batting wise it's not made much difference."
Team India defeated Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the second T20I to level the series and now Shubman Gill-led side will face Zimbabwe for the third match which will be played on July 10 at Harare Sports Club.
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