Former India chief selector K Srikkanth has claimed that Ruturaj Gaikwad should be given a longer run in ODIs after the IND vs SA 2nd ODI. Batting at number 4, the Maharashtra star scored his maiden hundred in the 50-over format in Raipur, albeit in a losing cause. Srikkanth claimed that the CSK captain had proved his worth and deserved more opportunities in the ODI format.
Gaikwad here to stay in ODI team?
In a video on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth hoped for normalcy to return in the team selection after Gaikwad’s hundred in Raipur. The former Indian selector has claimed that the CSK captain has proved his worth in the IND vs SA 2nd ODI and could bat for a long time acorss formats, especially since he follows the philosophy of Virat Kohli.
“I hope some kind of normalcy comes into the team picking, I won’t even call selection. Because Ruturaj Gaikwad definitely deserves a long run. Give him a good opportunity, he’s a brilliant player be it T20, ODI or even longer format. He is a guy who can play the long innings and has smashed it in the Ranji Trophy. Ruturaj showed the whole world today – if you are a youngster, you just follow Virat Kohli’s philosophy. Play to your strengths,” Srikkanth said.
Coming out to bat at an unfamiliar position at number 4, Gaikwad slammed 105 runs off 83 deliveries, striking 12 fours and two sixes. His 195-run partnership with Virat Kohli allowed India to amass 358 runs at the end of the innings, but it wasn’t enough for a win. However, Srikkanth’s claim of giving a long run to Gaikwad isn’t possible, primarily because there is no space in the playing XI in addition to the fact that he is playing this series just as a replacement for Shubman Gill.
“It’s good for Ruturaj Gaikwad that he has made a comeback into the Indian team and got his maiden ODI century. He is trying to cement his place. I would say he has almost cemented his place. It’s a big thing to score a hundred against such a bowling attack,” Srikkanth added.
