Ruturaj Gaikwad finally broke his run of low scores in international cricket by scoring his first T20I half-century, thus playing a crucial role in India beating South Africa by 48 runs in Visakhapatnam and keeping the series alive.
Ruturaj Gaikwad had recorded a string of low scores in the five T20Is he had played in his career before that and his innings on Tuesday proved to be crucial in India beating South Africa and keeping the five-match series alive.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Felt Going After The Bowlers Wasn’t About Being Reckless Or Playing Rash Shots
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 57 off 35 balls and his innings was part of a 97-run opening stand with Ishan Kishan, which came in the first 10 overs. He was the aggressor in the partnership, hitting seven fours and two sixes.
“Going after the bowlers was not about being reckless or playing rash shots. I think we as a batting unit have some strength, certain shots we play as individuals. It is about backing ourselves and putting pressure on the bowlers,” Ruturaj Gaikwad said after the match.
“Just making sure that you are showing the intent, no matter if you are playing first ball or second ball, or you are set, even if you are batting at 30-40, if it is there in your area, in your strength, just have to go for it, that is what the thinking is about.”
Asked if life was on the edge for him before this match, Gaikwad said: “Not really on the edge, it is just part and parcel of the sport. Last year I had a really good year so people come with a lot of expectations when you have a great year even in IPL and domestic.”
To stay alive in the five-match T20I series, Rishabh Pant’s side needed its players to stand up and deliver in the 3rd T20I, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Harshal Patel accomplished exactly that. With half-centuries, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan put up 97, India’s biggest opening stand against South Africa in T20Is. Yuzvendra Chahal picked 3 scalps and Harshal Patel picked 4 wickets to give India a comfortable victory.
Ruturaj Gaikwad Reckons There Will Be Off Days And Bad Days In T20 Cricket And It’s A Matter Of Staying Consistent Mentally
His form was patchy in the IPL 2022 this year as well before he turned things around, scoring 368 runs, including three fifties in 14 matches for Chennai Super Kings.
“In the IPL, the wicket was slightly bowler-friendly. There was no flat wicket, it was two-paced, the ball was turning, and there was some swing. So 3-4 games in IPL, I got out to good balls where in some dismissals, some good shots went to the fielder’s hand, it is part of T20 cricket. You will have off days and really bad days. It is a matter of staying consistent mentally, trusting your process.”
The 25-year-old said that he was dismissed in two-three IPL games while playing good strokes. In 14 matches with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2022, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 368 runs, with a high score of 99. Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled in the IPL 2022 opening few games. Despite finding his stride, he lacked consistency throughout the IPL.
If the selectors decide to go for the T20I World Cup 2022 with just one of Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad then, based on the current form, the former seems to have an edge, with his chart-topping 164 runs and an average of 54.67 trumping the latter’s 81 runs at 27.00 after the same number of games in the ongoing Proteas series.