Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is making a strong case for a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, having kicked off his 2024/25 Ranji Trophy season with an impressive performance. He scored a vital 86 runs against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium on Day 3, showcasing a commendable mix of resilience and aggression.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's 86 steady Maharashtra's boat in Ranji Trophy
Jammu & Kashmir declared their first innings at a hefty 519/7, bolstered by an outstanding 255-run innings from Shubham Khajuria. It was Ruturaj Gaikwad's brisk knock which helped Maharashtra 312/6 despite jittery start. Maharashtra were in a precarious position at 29/2, following the early dismissals of Murtaza Trunkwala and Sachin Dhas. However, Gaikwad’s arrival at number four brought much-needed stability. He formed a crucial 175-run partnership with opener Siddhesh Veer, which helped Maharashtra recover from their early setbacks. While Veer went on to convert his half-century into a century, Gaikwad was eventually bowled by Yudhvir Singh for 86 runs after hitting 13 boundaries.
Gaikwad's 2,368 runs at an average of over 42 in his 34th First-Class match highlight his consistent performances. His knock against Jammu & Kashmir marked his 13th fifty in FC cricket, and he also has six centuries to his name. Gaikwad's strong form continued from the 2024 Duleep Trophy, where he contributed valuable scores of 46, 58, and 62 for India C.
This phase of the season is crucial for Gaikwad, as reports suggest he could be considered as a backup batter for the Australia Tests. His chances may further improve due to speculations that Rohit Sharma might be rested for the first Test. Another leading contender for the squad is Abhimanyu Easwaran, who impressed with a century for Rest of India in the recently concluded Irani Cup.
Gaikwad's last appearance for India was during their Zimbabwe tour, where he demonstrated glimpses of his talent. Given his current form, he may be on the cusp of making a compelling case for his long-awaited Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ruturaj Gaikwad only extended his impressive form in red-ball cricket. During the Duleep Trophy, he was the standout performer for India C, scoring 232 runs at an impressive average of 38.66.
Given his recent on-field success, Ruturaj Gaikwad could be in line to join the Indian squad as the third opener for the upcoming tour of Australia. Reports suggest that regular captain Rohit Sharma may miss the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to personal reasons. In this context, it’s likely that the Indian selectors are closely monitoring Gaikwad's performances, especially his impressive run in the Ranji Trophy. This strong showing could potentially pave the way for him to earn his first Test cap in Perth.
