Ruturaj Gaikwad has been in the form of his life over the last 12 months, but he hasn’t got a lot of chances to play for India at the highest level. The 25-year-old has been included in plenty of squads, but he has mostly ended up warming the benches.
After scoring quite a few half-centuries at the fag of end of the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL), Ruturaj Gaikwad made his debut for India in the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021. But after playing two games where he scored 35 runs, he was back to the benches.
However, the youngster didn’t stop and bagged the Orange Cap in the 2021 IPL. In 16 matches, Gaikwad smashed 635 runs at an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26. His top score of an unbeaten 101 came against the Rajasthan Royals, although in a losing cause.
Ruturaj Gaikwad piling up runs at will
On the back of his performance, CSK won the IPL after beating the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Thereafter, the Pune-born Gaikwad showed his class in the 2021-22 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In five matches, Gaikwad scored 603 runs at an average of 150.75 and a strike rate of 112.92 with four centuries. He also got a top score of 168 against Chandigarh in Saurashtra. Thereafter, he broke into the national squad for the limited-overs series against the West Indies.
India have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, which is being played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Despite India making quite a few experiments in their batting department, Ruturaj Gaikwad hasn’t got a chance in the West Indies T20Is.
With India already sealing the fate of the series, the netizens want Ruturaj Gaikwad to take part in the third and final T20I against West Indies on Sunday, February 20 in Kolkata. Ishan Kishan has thus far opened the batting with national skipper Rohit Sharma.
As of now it remains to be seen if Ruturaj Gaikwad gets a chance to don the India jersey in the final game of the West Indies T20Is. He would be raring to take the field keeping in mind the form he has shown over the last few months.
Here’s how the netizens backed Gaikwad to play the West Indies T20Is
#RuturajGaikwad #RohithSharma
In what way ruturaj is lesser than this clown pic.twitter.com/9x62H8iTwG— crapname (@crappyname) February 16, 2022
One day
one fine day
will be your day@Ruutu1331 ❤️ | #RuturajGaikwad pic.twitter.com/0kpGDev1rQ— Bang (@Bang_bankkk) February 18, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad AKA Life is not fair#CricketTwitter
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) February 17, 2022
Why Ruturaj Gaikwad Is Not getting match to play ??
Ruturaj Gaikwad IPL 2021 635 runs avg 45
Ishan Kishan IPL 2021 241 runs avg 26
Wtf is Indian management is doing 🤬🤬
Really shameful #Ruturaj #RuturajGaikwad pic.twitter.com/eDF0vqk1vF— Ritesh Khade (@RiteshKhade10) February 18, 2022
Well @BCCI ,team india management and our honourable skipper @ImRo45 ignored @Ruutu1331 yet another time . These stats aren't enough to be the part of first 11 players of this nation
Well if you don't want him to play then just release him nd let him play domestic#Ruturaj pic.twitter.com/7P9wyaohkC
— Sumit 🇮🇳 (@innocent2904) February 16, 2022
Bring Ruturaj Gaikwad in 3rd T20I.
— Shivani Shukla 🏏 (@iShivani_Shukla) February 18, 2022
Ruturaj Gaikwad once again not selected in playing xi 💔
Sadly this shot triggered whole mumbai indians lobby 😔
New eRa of cApTaIn Rohit sharma.. #INDvWI #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Qrh95bYDtO— Ravi mishra™ (@ravi07_mishra) February 18, 2022
#AskStar @StarSportsIndia What is the reason behind Ruturaj Gaikwad not given a single chance to make his debut for India though he is in the team?
— ajay (@ajaymee79313660) February 18, 2022
No offense to Ishan but I'm f he still finds a place in the 3rd T20I, it will be clearly very unfair for Ruturaj Gaikwad.. #WIvIND #IshanKishan #Ruturaj
— Aviral Rai (@cric_fan23) February 18, 2022
It hurts that Ruturaj Gaikwad don't get a game but what hurts even more is Rohit Sharma fans making fun of him being benched. Life is really tough for Ruturaj Gaikwad fans💔💔💔
— 31 (@FreakCricketer_) February 16, 2022
