Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad failed to make much of an impact in the second T20I against South Africa on Sunday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. He was dismissed for just one run in the first innings of the match.
Ruturaj Gaikwad walked out to open the innings for India along with Ishan Kishan. However, his stay at the crease only lasted four balls. The Indian batter played a loose drive outside off stump straight to the man at the point region. This marked Kagiso Rabada’s 50th wicket in T20I matches.
Not the start #TeamIndia were looking for 😢
Ruturaj walks back in the first over, courtesy of Rabada.
🇮🇳 – 3/1 (0.5)#INDvSA
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) June 12, 2022
Gaikwad has got an opportunity in this series as regular openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were not available. Rohit has been given rest, while KL Rahul suffered an injury leading into the series. However, Gaikwad has not been able to grab the chance with both hands. He scored 23 runs in the first T20I. So far, he averages 12.5 in his small T20I career of five innings.
Very disappointed with Ruturaj Gaikwad, you can have all talent in the world but you need to make such opportunities count. He is much better than this. #INDvSA #INDvsSA
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) June 12, 2022
I think Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to have a look at his batting again he isn't looking any good while playing his shots he has been exposed to his weakness
He needs to change his technique a bit— Yash (@CSKYash_) June 12, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad calling MS Dhoni after failing again :#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/IKHg5oZvMe
— Anita Sahu (@anitasahu23) June 12, 2022
Very disappointed with Ruturaj Gaikwad, you can have all talent in the world but you need to make such opportunities count.🤞
He is much better than this.👏#INDvSA #RuturajGaikwad#INDvsSA #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/n6Wt521HHX— Raghav Acharya (@raghavacharya95) June 12, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad is playing for india like Kohli for RCB in 2022
— Mogambo ✪ ❄️ (@UberHandle) June 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/AbdullahNeaz/status/1535982010052661248?s=20&t=VQs2A1CZZZLIAlZw0zsr1g
Ruturaj Gaikwad to csk fans pic.twitter.com/JQYHPKjMa2
— Abhi (@Ragnarfreak) June 12, 2022
Still can't believe we're playing Ruturaj ahead of this Don pic.twitter.com/IR4RUThf72
— Robin Saroy💫 (@RobinSaroy2002) June 12, 2022
Prithvi Shaw deserves a place in T20I squad. The best youngster in this format at the moment. (No I don't consider Ruturaj youngster but Shaw his better anyway)
— Rohan | Dotvid Hatebot (@Rohantweetss) June 12, 2022
The execution was off: Team India captain Rishabh Pant on the loss in the first T20I against South Africa
Earlier in the match, South African skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to bat first. The South African team is without the services of Quinton De Kock who suffered a hand injury. Henrich Klaasen replaced him in the playing XI, while Reeza Hendricks came in for Tristian Stubbs.
On the other hand, the Indian team decided to stick to the same playing XI as the first T20I. Speaking at the toss, the Indian skipper Rishabh Pant, expressed that their execution was off in the previous match. He said,
“There weren’t many things we did wrong in the last game, just a bit of execution was off and we will do better today.”
Meanwhile, the Indian team has lost two wickets for 68 runs in nine overs. Both the openers, Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad are back in the hut. Ishan played a fine hand of 34 runs off 21 deliveries.
Get the latest cricket news here and like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.