Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain India in the Asian Games and is concurrently a member of the squad participating in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland. On Friday, India secured a narrow 2-run victory (via DLS method) against Ireland in the first T20I, where rain disrupted play in Dublin.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, India’s opening batsman, remained unbeaten on 19 and displayed strength before the rain interrupted the chase of 140 runs. Gaikwad’s significance in the T20 squad extends beyond this match, as he is poised to lead the team in the upcoming Asian Games.
Despite his consistent performances in the IPL, Gaikwad’s position as a regular player in the Indian XI remains unsettled, adding an intriguing dimension to the team’s dynamics. On the other hand, the remarkable ascent of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has captured significant attention.
Jaiswal’s swift rise has been particularly striking since he made his Test debut against the West Indies in July this year, impressively scoring a century on a challenging pitch. Amidst the ongoing discussion about India’s opening duo, former Indian cricketers Kiran More and Saba Karim provided differing viewpoints regarding Ruturaj Gaikwad’s position in the batting lineup.
Ruturaj Gaikwad made headlines with his performance
More envisions Gaikwad as having the capability to become a reliable Test player and potentially even a future captain for India. In contrast, Karim’s viewpoint varies, stating that Yashasvi Jaiswal currently holds an advantage over Gaikwad in terms of performance and swift advancement in the hierarchy.
“I’m waiting for his (Gaikwad) Test debut. Both (Gaikwad and Jaiswal) are outstanding players. Ruturaj can play all formats, his basics are so correct. He can be the future captain of India as well, he has got a great temperament. He’s playing under MS Dhoni, so he must have learnt things about handling the team and handling the situations. He’s a quality player, and I’m waiting for him to make his Test debut,” he said on JioCinema.
Meanwhile, Saba Karim pointed out that Gaikwad is under immense pressure to maintain his position in the team, given that there are numerous individuals anticipating his “failure” in the hierarchy.
“Yashasvi scored a hundred on Test debut, then smashed a half-century during the T20I series against West Indies as well. Things are not easy for him, because there are several cricketers waiting for Ruturaj Gaikwad to fail so they can get a look-in. This is when your character has to come out, can you take that pressure? That is why this is a phase where he has to rely on his ability and try to put a big score,” said the former selector.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023. The Asian Games mark India’s final T20I involvement until November this year, as the focus shifts to ODIs in preparation for the World Cup scheduled for October-November.
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