In a high-scoring encounter at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, Ruturaj Gaikwad stole the spotlight with a superb maiden ODI hundred, guiding India to a formidable total in the first ODI against South Africa on December 3, 2025. Batting at No. 4 for only the second time in his List A/ODI career, Gaikwad delivered a composed and impactful 105 off 83 balls, an innings studded with 12 fours and 2 sixes.
His knock—combined with Virat Kohli’s brilliant 102 and a strong finish from KL Rahul, who remained unbeaten on 66—powered India to 358 for 5 in 50 overs. It was the perfect response to a pressure situation, especially for Gaikwad, who had never batted below No. 3 in over 80 List A innings.
A Confident Move Down the Order
Gaikwad revealed that the team management informed him beforehand about the role change. For him, the decision was a mark of trust.
“They told me I would be batting at No. 4 this series. I feel it’s a privilege to have that kind of confidence from the management towards an opener,” Gaikwad said in the post-match press conference. He added that his experience as an opener helped him understand how to control the middle overs, especially between the 11th and 40th overs.
Adapting to the new position, he said, was mainly about navigating the early phase of his innings. “It was just a matter of how I could play my first 10–15 balls. After that, the process remains the same. I have been working really hard and have been in good touch as well. So I wanted to make sure that whenever I am set, I make it a big one.”
Gaikwad’s partnership with Kohli was the highlight of India’s innings. Their 195-run stand became the highest third-wicket partnership by India against South Africa in ODIs. Gaikwad praised Kohli’s form and their communication in the middle, noting how clear their targets and plans were throughout the stand.
The young batter said it was a dream to share such a partnership with Kohli. “The chat in between was very clear. We set 5-5 or 10-10 run targets and discussed how to manoeuvre gaps, find boundaries, and rotate strike. You dream of these kinds of moments.”
Despite returning to the ODI setup after two years and only due to injuries in the squad, Gaikwad said he does not dwell on competition within the team. Instead, he focuses on being present and consistent. A lean domestic season, he added, helped him reassess and reset his goals.
From now on, Gaikwad aims to stay consistent across formats. “Whichever match it is—club game, red ball, or white ball—I want to make sure I stay consistent. My duty is to score runs. If I get opportunities, great; if not, that’s fine too.”
His performance in Raipur was a statement—both of readiness and reliability—as India look to build a stable middle order heading deeper into the season.
