Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra discusses Ruturaj Gaikwad's prospects for the T20 World Cup and acknowledges his recent form for CSK in the IPL. He suggests that Gaikwad should be considered for the national team due to his past performances, including scoring a century against Australia in November 2023. With intense competition for the top-order position, Chopra suggests that Gaikwad could be the dark horse for India in the T20 World Cup. This comes ahead of CSK's match against LSG on Friday.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: A Rising Star in Indian Cricket
Ruturaj Gaikwad is a young Indian cricketer who has been making waves in the domestic and international circuit. He is a talented batsman who has captained Maharashtra in domestic cricket and has been a key player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his debut for the Indian national team in 2021 and has since played in several T20 Internationals.
Recent Form and Prospects for the T20 World Cup
In the recent IPL season, Gaikwad has been in excellent form, scoring over 400 runs at an impressive average of 40. This has led to former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra suggesting that he should be considered for the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Chopra believes that Gaikwad's recent performances, including a century against Australia in November 2023, demonstrate his potential.
However, there is intense competition for the top-order position in the Indian team, with established players like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli already occupying slots. Chopra suggests that Gaikwad could be a "dark horse" for India in the T20 World Cup, offering a different dimension to the team with his attacking style of play.
Background and Previous Performances
Gaikwad began his cricketing journey in Pune and made his first-class debut for Maharashtra in 2016. He rose to prominence in the 2020 IPL season when he was CSK's leading run-scorer with 635 runs. In 2021, he made his international debut for India against Sri Lanka and has played in a handful of T20Is since then.
Apart from his IPL performances and century against Australia, Gaikwad has also scored consistently for India 'A' and the Maharashtra team. He has shown his ability to score runs in difficult conditions and against high-quality opposition.
Top 5 FAQs
What is Ruturaj Gaikwad's batting style? A: Gaikwad is an attacking batsman who likes to play aggressive shots. He is particularly strong on the off-side and has a wide range of strokes.
How has Gaikwad performed in the IPL? A: Gaikwad has been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL in recent years. He has scored over 2,500 runs in 65 matches at an average of 39.15 and a strike rate of 137.01.
What are Gaikwad's chances of playing in the T20 World Cup? A: Gaikwad has a strong chance of making the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. He is in excellent form, and his ability to play different roles in the top order could make him a valuable asset to the team.
What are Gaikwad's strengths and weaknesses as a batsman? A: Gaikwad's strengths include his aggressive style of play, his ability to score runs in difficult conditions, and his wide range of strokes. His weaknesses include his occasional tendency to get out to loose deliveries.
What is Gaikwad's future in cricket? A: Gaikwad has the potential to become one of the best batsmen in the world. He is still young and has a lot of room for improvement. If he continues to perform consistently, he could have a long and successful career in international cricket.
After a slow start to the season, Karl-Anthony Towns is finally finding his rhythm with the New York Knicks, thanks in part to his teammate Jalen Brunson taking on a leadership role. In their latest game against the Miami Heat, Towns had a breakout performance, scoring 44 points and showing off the full range of his skills. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is pleased with Towns' progress and believes that as the team continues to mesh together, Towns' performance will only improve.
Despite having relatively unimpressive stats in first-class cricket, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has been selected to make his Test debut for England in New Zealand. This decision has raised eyebrows as other players with better numbers have been overlooked. However, with his exceptional performance in white-ball cricket and potential as a generational talent, Bethell has caught the attention of the selectors. Only time will tell if this unconventional pick by England will pay off.
In a surprising move, 21-year-old England player Jacob Bethell has been selected to bat at number three in the first Test against New Zealand. This comes after regular wicketkeeper Jordan Cox was ruled out due to injury. Captain Ben Stokes has moved down the batting order to make room for Bethell, who has impressed in white-ball cricket and recently secured an Indian Premier League contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bethell's elevation is seen as a testament to his talent and potential, and is eagerly anticipated by both fans and teammates.
In a disappointing match for Newcastle United, manager Eddie Howe expressed his dismay with the final 30 minutes of his team's performance against West Ham, resulting in a 2-0 loss at St James' Park. Despite a strong start, the Magpies were unable to maintain their momentum and were ultimately defeated by a more cohesive West Ham side. Howe's critique highlights the importance of maintaining consistency and focus throughout the entire game.
The IPL 2025 mega auction saw established stars fail to land a franchise, with names like Steven Smith, Pathum Nissanka, and Gus Atkinson going unsold. The Punjab Kings made the first pick of the auction, choosing uncapped Harnoor Singh, while the Rajasthan Royals quickly signed Jammu and Kashmir's Yudhvir Charak. Meanwhile, left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh became a big buy for Chennai Super Kings after a bidding tussle.
The Rajasthan Royals (RR) have secured the services of versatile all-rounder Nitish Rana for INR 4.2 crores at the IPL 2025 auction. Rana, who has previously played for Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, is known for his aggressive left-handed batting and handy off-spin. He was highly sought after by three teams but RR emerged victorious in a last-minute battle with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Rana's addition to the team adds depth and versatility to their middle-order, giving them a strong batting line-up for the upcoming season.
Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jedda, Saudi Arabia saw intense bidding from the 10 franchises as they competed to secure their top targets. The first day of the auction saw Lucknow Super Giants' record-breaking ₹27 crore purchase of Rishabh Pant and a total spending of ₹467.95 crore. Day 2 featured the auction of 33 capped players and an accelerated round with both capped and uncapped players. The total spend by the franchises in the two-day extravaganza reached an astounding ₹639.15 crore.
The Indian cricket team secured their position at the top of the World Test Championship 2023-25 points table with their convincing win against Australia in the first Test of the ongoing series. Captain Virat Kohli showed his batting prowess with an unbeaten century, breaking multiple records in the process. This win puts India in a strong position to qualify for the WTC 2025 final at Lord's next year.
On Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Auction, history was made when the 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi was signed by Rajasthan Royals for a record-breaking price of Rs 1.10 crore. Suryavanshi, who hails from Bihar, recently made headlines by becoming the youngest player in India's premier First-Class tournament. Along with Suryavanshi, Eshan Malinga's signing by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 1.20 crore was another notable moment in the auction. Malinga, a Sri Lankan pacer, impressed with his new-ball skills in the LPL and Emerging T20 Asia Cup.
In a shocking turn of events at the IPL 2025 auction, Mumbai Indians acquired English cricketer Will Jacks for a massive Rs 5.25 crore. The explosive power-hitter, who was previously released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, made headlines in the last season with a sensational unbeaten century off just 41 balls. RCB's decision to not use the RTM card for Jacks left fans and experts surprised, making this one of the most talked about deals at the auction.