Indian captain Rohit Sharma is already under pressure to bat in the ongoing tour of Australia and now Ruturaj Gaikwad's stunning century in List A cricket has only added to the mounting pressure ahead of the Boxing Day Test on at MCG.
Rohit Sharma's numbers have not been good so far in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as the experienced batsman managed just 19 runs in three innings against Australia at an average of 6.33. This year he struggled in Test cricket, averaging under 15.
Pressure mounts on Rohit Sharma as Ruturaj Gaikwad shines in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25
On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad dominated domestic cricket while captaining the Maharashtra cricket team, making a strong case for India's recall and putting pressure on Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Gaikwad delivered a stunning performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Services.
The Maharashtra captain smashed an electrifying 148* from just 74 balls to propel his side to an impressive nine-wicket win over Services as they chased down a target of 204 in 20.2 overs at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy from Mumbai on 23 December.
Gaikwad's combination of power and accuracy astounded fans and cricket pundits. Earlier, the Maharashtra bowlers set the tone with their stunning efforts as Pradeep Dadhe and Satyajeet Bachhav dismantled the Services batting line-up with figures of 3/38 and 3/36 respectively. Their disciplined bowling restricted Services to a modest total of 204 and then Gaikwad made quick work of 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 has been nothing short of spectacular, featuring 14 boundaries and an astonishing 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 not only bolstered Maharashtra's campaign in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, but also boosted Gaikwad's chances of making India's squad for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
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As India prepares for the high-stakes Boxing Day Test against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad's scintillating performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has caught the attention of the national selectors.
Ruturaj Gaikwad catches the attention of Indian selectors with explosive batting
National selectors are closely monitoring performance in the tournament to identify talent for India's 50-over plans and Gaikwad's exceptional form has boosted his chances of making the national team.
The CSK captain's unique ability to consistently anchor the innings with explosive batting makes him a strong contender for India's white-ball lineup and the 2024-25 Champions Trophy.
Apart from Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan also caught the eye with a stunning knock of 134 runs from just 78 balls for Jharkhand in their win against Manipur, adding more heat to the battle for limited-overs places in the Indian team.
Notably, Gaikwad was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten match-winning knock against Services. Maharashtra will take on Meghalaya in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 on December 26 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.