Follow UsIn a high-scoring thriller at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, Ruturaj Gaikwad grabbed the headlines with a brilliant maiden ODI century. Batting at No. 4 for only the second time in his List A/ODI career, Gaikwad made the most of the opportunity, scoring 105 off 83 balls (with 12 fours and 2 sixes) on December 3, 2025. His knock, along with Virat Kohli’s 102 and a solid finish by KL Rahul (66*), pushed India to a formidable 358 for 5 in 50 overs.
Gaikwad, who had never batted below No. 3 in more than 80 List A innings, justified the team management’s decision with a composed knock that anchored India through the middle overs. He said that it’s a privilege to get an opportunity in the team, and his experience as an opener prepared him for the role.
"[The team management] told me that 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. So I took it that way,” Gaikwad said in the post-match press conference, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
“In the one-day format, even when I was opening the innings, I always tried to make sure that whenever I was set, I was able to bat till the 45th over and capitalise after that. So I knew somewhat how to play between overs 11 to 40, how to rotate strike, what the boundary options were.”
He added that adapting to No. 4 was mostly about handling the early phase of his innings.
“It was just a matter of how I could play my first 10-15 balls, and after that, the process remains the same. I have been working really hard, and obviously been in good touch as well. So I wanted to make sure that whenever I am set, I make it a big one,” the right-hander remarked.
Gaikwad shared a 195-run stand with Kohli, the highest third-wicket partnership by India against South Africa in ODIs. He praised Kohli’s batting and their communication in the middle. “Whatever practice sessions we have had, he is batting unbelievably well… the amount of time he has and how he is able to convert it in the match as well. And even this game, I enjoyed a lot,” he said.
“The chat in between was very clear. We had set 5-5, 10-10 run target and [discussed] how to manoeuvre the gaps or how to hit those boundaries, how we can rotate strike. Obviously, you dream of these kinds of moments … to be able to have that kind of partnership, I really enjoyed a lot.”
Despite not playing an ODI since 2023 and returning only because of injuries in the squad, Gaikwad said he avoids thinking too much about competition. “I think all these things are better if you don't think too much. Because if you do so, you are not in the present.” He acknowledged a lean domestic season but said it helped him refocus.
“From this year onwards, whichever match it is, whether a club game, red-ball format, or white-ball format, I will make sure I try to stay consistent. I realised that my duty is to score runs as much as possible. And if I get an opportunity, well and good. Even if I don't, it's still fine,” he added.