World Cup 2023: In the bustling world of cricket, every series becomes a significant precursor to the grand events. As the ODI World Cup 2023 approaches, Team India is hosting Australia in a precursor series, setting the stage for emergent talent to showcase their skills. The first match has already marked India’s dominance with a 5-wicket victory.
IND vs AUS: Given the intensity of the upcoming World Cup, several stalwarts of the Indian cricket team such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are taking a step back in the initial matches of the series, allowing the upcoming players to demonstrate their mettle. Among them, Ruturaj Gaikwad stands out, seizing this golden opportunity.
During the first match against Australia, Gaikwad showcased his prowess right from the outset. Partnering with Shubman Gill, Gaikwad constructed a robust foundation for the Indian innings. Playing aggressively yet elegantly, he scored a commendable 71 runs with a strike rate of 100, adorned with 10 boundaries.
IND vs AUS: In an interesting turn of events, despite this sparkling performance, Gaikwad was bestowed with the captaincy for the Asian Games 2023 but was overlooked for the World Cup squad. The players representing India in the Asian Games are a distinct lot from those selected for the World Cup.
Looking at Gaikwad’s international journey, the 26-year-old has donned the Indian jersey in 3 ODIs and 11 T20s. His ODI contribution stands at 98 runs, with the highest being the recent 71. Whereas in the T20 format, he has managed 212 runs at an average of 16.87, including two half-centuries with a highest score of 58.
IND vs AUS: This recent performance against Australia has underscored Gaikwad’s potential, suggesting that he might be one of those rare gems who rise when least expected. Only time will reveal if the decisions around his participation in major tournaments will pay off, but for now, Ruturaj Gaikwad has certainly made a statement.
