Ranji Trophy: Ruturaj Gaikwad begins season with brisk 86

Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who might very well be eyeing a place in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month, has begun his 2024/25 Ranji Trophy campaign in fine fashion, posting a brisk 86 against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher E Kashmir Cricket Stadium.

After J&K declared on 519/7, on the back of a record 255 from Shubham Khajuria, Maharashtra were in early trouble at 29/2, losing both Murtaza Trunkwala and Sachin Dhas cheaply. But Gaikwad walked in at No.4 and bailed the side out of trouble by stitching a 175-run stand with opener Siddhesh Veer. 

But while Veer converted his fifty into a century, Gaikwad fell for 86, bowled by Yudhvir Singh. Gaikwad’s knock featured 13 fours and, overall, he went at a strike rate of 66.15.

This is an important phase for Gaikwad, who could potentially be picked as a reserve batter for the Australia Tests. The in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran seems to be the front-runner but Gaikwad is someone that the selectors rate highly, evident by him getting picked in the squad for the South Africa Tests last year before injury ruled him out of the tour. 

As it stands, Gaikwad averages 42.25 at the first-class level and has scored six tons. 

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