In the 3rd T20I against Australia in Guwahati, Indian batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered an outstanding century, scoring an unbeaten 123 off 57 balls, propelling India to a formidable total of 222/3 on November 29. This marked Gaikwad’s maiden international century in his 21-match career in the international format.
Former India cricketer Ashish Nehra, impressed by Gaikwad’s performance, expressed confidence in Gaikwad’s ability to excel in all three formats for India. Nehra emphasized Gaikwad’s elegance and the stability he brings to India’s top order, suggesting that amidst aggressive batters, Gaikwad could establish a strong foundation across all formats.
Speaking on Jio Cinema, Nehra compared Gaikwad’s style to other players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, highlighting the need for solidity in the T20 format, which Gaikwad contributes. Nehra concluded that Ruturaj Gaikwad is undoubtedly a versatile player capable of excelling in all three formats for India.
“Everybody knows what kind of a player Ruturaj Gaikwad is. When you talk about Yashasvi Jaiswal, his game is completely different compared to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s. You need solidity in the T20 format as well and that’s what Gaikwad brings to the table. There’s no doubt that Ruturaj Gaikwad is a three-format player for India,” said Nehra.
Gaikwad gained prominence during his time with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, amassing 1797 runs in 53 matches over four seasons. His impressive performance positions him as a potential leader to succeed MS Dhoni.
Despite Gaikwad’s century, India fell short of securing a 3-0 lead as all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s remarkable 104 not out off 48 balls guided Australia to a thrilling final-ball victory in Guwahati. Maxwell was awarded the player of the match for his outstanding contribution.
With two matches remaining in the series, one in Raipur and the final one in Bengaluru, the competition remains open.
