Indian captain Rohit Sharma is already under pressure to deliver with the bat on the ongoing tour of Australia, and now Ruturaj Gaikwad's incredible century in List A cricket has added to that pressing pressure ahead of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Rohit Sharma's numbers have not been good so far in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as the seasoned batsman managed just 19 runs in three innings against Australia at an average of 6.33. He has struggled in Test cricket this year, averaging less than 15.
Pressure mounts on Rohit Sharma as Ruturaj Gaikwad shines in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25
On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad has dominated domestic cricket while captaining the Maharashtra cricket team, strongly pushing his case for India's recall and putting pressure on India captain Rohit Sharma . Gaikwad delivered a remarkable performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 against Services.
The Maharashtra captain smashed an electrifying 148* from just 74 balls to power his side to a nine-wicket win over Services, as they chased down a target of 204 in 20.2 overs at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai on December 23 .
Gaikwad's combination of power and precision amazed cricket fans and pundits. Earlier, the Maharashtra bowlers set the tone with their impressive efforts, as Pradeep Dadhe and Satyajeet Bachhav decimated the Services batting line-up with figures of 3/38 and 3/36, respectively. Their disciplined bowling restricted services to a paltry total of 204, and then Gaikwad made quick work of Maharashtra.
Ruturaj Gaikwas hits 4 boundaries and 11 sixes against Services
Ruturaj Gaikwad was at the heart of the chase, launching an all-out attack on the Services bowlers. The Maharashtra skipper's innings was nothing short of spectacular, with 14 boundaries and a staggering 11 sixes in the VHT 2024-25 encounter in Mumbai.
With fearless attack and impeccable timing, Gaikwad's show of leadership sealed the match for Maharashtra in style. Well, this incredible performance has not only boosted Maharashtra's campaign in the 2024-2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy, but has also boosted Gaikwad's chances of being included in India's Champions Trophy squad. ICC 2025.
Also Read: Sanjay Manjrekar exposes Rohit Sharma in front of the world
As India prepares for the high-scoring Boxing Day Test against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad's brilliant performance in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-2025 has caught the attention of the national selectors.
Ruturaj Gaikwad catches the eye of Indian selectors with explosive batting
The national selectors are closely monitoring the tournament's performance to identify talent for India's 50-over plans, and Gaikwad's exceptional form has boosted his chances of making the national team.
The CSK captain's unique ability to consistently anchor the innings with explosive batting makes him a strong contender for India's white-ball line-up and the 2024-25 Champions Trophy.
Apart from Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan also grabbed attention with a stunning knock of 134 runs off just 78 balls for Jharkhand in their win against Manipur, adding more heat to the battle for limited places in the Team India.
Notably, Gaikwad was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten knock against the Services. Maharashtra will face Meghalaya in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 on December 26 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
