India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has continued to pile up runs in the hope of getting a breakthrough in the Indian team after waiting on the flanks for some time now. His latest heroics came playing for India A against South Africa A, in the first of the three unofficial ODI games today (November 13), where the 28-year-old slammed a quickfire ton off 119 balls, comprising 10 boundaries. He eventually finished with a match-winning 117 (129) and won the POTM.
After missing out on a spot in the two-match Test side that will lock horns against the Proteas, the talented batter’s recent knock will make a strong case for his selection in the three-match IND Vs SA ODI leg, which will follow the red-ball games from November 30.
Incidentally, Ruturaj’s last appearance for India came over a year earlier in a T20I game during an away series in Zimbabwe. Since then, he has made a few India A appearances but unfortunately, couldn’t convince the selectors enough to include him in the main squads.
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The dynamic right-hander has been in incredible form of late. He slammed 184 during the Duleep Trophy and then followed it up with two fifties and a century in his four innings in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26, playing for Maharashtra.
The chances of an India comeback for Ruturaj Gaikwad are further boosted by the freak rib injury of Shreyas Iyer during the Australia tour. The ODI vice-captain is currently in rehabilitation and in all likelihood, will miss the Proteas series which has now created an opening in the middle-order. In such a case, Ruturaj Gaikwad is the perfect candidate to replace Shreyas Iyer at No.4.
Speaking about Rutu’s ODI numbers, he has played just 15 games, managing 115 runs in six innings, including a fifty. While it’s a short sample to measure, his List A numbers are quite impeccable with over 4k runs, comprising 16 tons and 17 fifties and a highest score of 220* while batting at a fiery strike rate of 101.66. Given such strong credentials and his recent touch, the selectors will definitely have Rutu on their minds while announcing the squad for the Proteas white-ball series next.
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