In the decisive third T20I clash between India and Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad etched his name in the annals of cricket history by not only smashing his maiden T20I century for India but also setting ablaze a series of records. As India aimed to clinch the five-match series against Australia, Gaikwad’s spectacular performance played a pivotal role in steering his team to a commanding position at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium.
Fresh off a comfortable victory in the previous T20I, Suryakumar Yadav and his team opted for a strategic change, replacing Mukesh Kumar with pacer Avesh Khan, and confirming Deepak Chahar as the squad replacement for the absent Mukesh, who was on a break for his marriage. Despite an initial setback that saw India struggling at 24-2, courtesy of Yashasvi Jaiswal (6) and Ishan Kishan (0), Gaikwad and skipper Suryakumar Yadav showcased their prowess, lifting India to 80-2 within the first 10 overs.
Following Suryakumar’s departure in the 10th over, Gaikwad assumed control, unleashing a stellar innings that propelled India to a colossal total. The Chennai Super Kings’ star opener reached his half-century in 32 balls, and in a display of extraordinary batting prowess, accelerated in the death overs to complete his century in the subsequent 20 balls.
With this remarkable feat, Gaikwad not only became the ninth Indian batter to achieve a century in T20I cricket but also entered the exclusive club that includes cricket stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. His century, achieved in just 52 balls, marked a historic milestone in the shortest format of the game.
The 26-year-old dynamo remained unbeaten, amassing a colossal 123 runs off 57 balls, steering India to a formidable total of 222-3 in the allotted 20 overs. This outstanding performance secured Gaikwad the second-highest individual score for India in T20I cricket, trailing only behind Shubman Gill’s sublime 126* against New Zealand. Moreover, Gaikwad etched his name in the record books as the first Indian batter to slam a T20I century against Australia, further cementing his place as a rising star in Indian cricket.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
