Following the first T20I against Ireland, Kiran More, the former Indian wicket-keeper and selector, commended Ruturaj Gaikwad for his batting prowess and leadership attributes. During India’s pursuit, Gaikwad achieved an unbeaten 19 off 16 balls, aiding them in securing an eight-wicket victory via the D/L method.
This win established a 1-0 series advantage. Gaikwad holds the position of vice-captain in the team led by Jasprit Bumrah during the Ireland T20Is. The 26-year-old player, who is a member of the Indian Test squad during the West Indies tour, is set to lead the secondary Indian team in the approaching Asian Games, which kick off on September 23rd.
In a conversation with Jio Cinema, More conveyed his belief in Gaikwad’s ability as a versatile batsman across all formats and his potential to lead Team India in the future.
“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,” said More.
Gaikwad holds the captaincy for Maharashtra in T20 and List-A cricket, guiding them to the Vijay Hazare Trophy final last year. Additionally, he played a significant part in CSK’s triumph in the IPL in both 2021 and 2023, tallying 635 and 590 runs in those respective years.
“Numerous cricketers anticipate Ruturaj Gaikwad’s failure”- Saba Karim
In the meantime, Saba Karim, a former Indian wicket-keeper and selector, believes Ruturaj Gaikwad will face increasing challenges to maintain his spot in the Indian team due to intense competition. Despite not yet debuting in Test cricket, the stylish opener has participated in ten T20Is and two ODIs for India, with just a single half-century to his name.
“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 Karim.
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