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.
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.
The Mumbai Indians started their IPL campaign with an 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, with 23-year-old pacer Ashwani Kumar stealing the spotlight with his impressive performance. MI skipper Hardik Pandya praised the team's scouting efforts for discovering Kumar's talent, and highlighted his crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock as the game-changers for the team. Fans can catch all the latest updates from IPL 2025 on News24, and follow them on social media for breaking news and updates.