Indian captain Rohit Sharma is already under pressure to deliver with the bat on the ongoing Australia tour, and now Ruturaj Gaikwad’s stunning century in List A cricket has only added to that pressing pressure ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Rohit Sharma’s numbers are not good at all so far in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, as the seasoned batter managed only 19 runs in three innings against Australia at an average of 6.33. He has been struggling in Test cricket this year, averaging under 15.
Pressure mounts on Rohit Sharma as Ruturaj Gaikwad shines in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25
On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad has been dominating domestic cricket while captaining the Maharashtra cricket team, pushing his case strongly for India’s recall and putting pressure on the Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Gaikwad delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Services.
The Maharashtra captain smashed an electrifying 148* off just 74 balls to power his team to a commanding nine-wicket win over Services, as they chased down a target of 204 in 20.2 overs at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai on December 23.
Gaikwad’s mix of power and precision left fans and cricket experts in awe. Earlier, Maharashtra’s bowlers set the tone with their stunning efforts, as Pradeep Dadhe and Satyajeet Bachhav dismantled the Services batting lineup with figures of 3/38 and 3/36, respectively. Their disciplined bowling restricted Services to a modest 204 total, and then Gaikwad did the quick job for Maharashtra.
Ruturaj Gaikwas hits 4 boundaries and 11 sixes against Services
Ruturaj Gaikwad took center stage during the chase, launching an all-out assault on the Services bowlers. The Maharashtra skipper’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, featuring 14 boundaries and a staggering 11 sixes in the VHT 2024-25 encounter in Mumbai.
With fearless aggression and impeccable timing, Gaikwad’s display of dominance sealed the match for Maharashtra in style. Well, this phenomenal performance has not only bolstered Maharashtra’s campaign in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 but also boosted Gaikwad’s chances of inclusion in India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
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As India gears up for the high-stakes Boxing Day Test against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliant performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has caught the eye of the national selectors.
Ruturaj Gaikwad catches Indian selectors’ eye with explosive batting
The national selectors are closely monitoring the performance in the tournament to identify talent for India’s 50-over plans, and Gaikwad’s exceptional form has boosted his chances of making it to the national team.
The CSK captain’s unique ability to steadily anchor the innings with explosive batting makes him a strong candidate for India’s white-ball lineup and the Champions Trophy 2024-25.
Apart from Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan also grabbed attention with a stunning knock of 134 runs off just 78 balls for Jharkhand in their win against Manipur, adding more heat to the battle for limited-overs spots in Team India.
Notably, Gaikwad has been named Player of the Match for his match-winning unbeaten knock against the Services. Maharashtra will next face Meghalaya in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 on December 26 at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.