Raipur – In Raipur, India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad, who claimed his first ODI century in the second game against South Africa, told reporters that he felt “quite confident” about moving to the No. 4 slot—a position he’d never occupied in 50‑over cricket before. He added that he was grateful for the trust the board has shown him, even though he regularly opens the innings.
Gaikwad had batted 86 times in List A games but never lower than No. 3. He kicked off the series with an 8 off 14 in Ranchi, then forged 105 off 83 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. He described that knock as his best across all formats, powered by 12 fours and two sixes at a strike‑rate of 126.51, reaching fifty on his 52nd ball before accelerating to his maiden ODI hundred in just 77 deliveries.
“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 after the match.
“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. So I was pretty much confident about how I could go through the innings.”
He added that the key is to handle the first 10‑15 balls and then keep the rhythm going. After months of hard work and staying in good touch, he feels ready to play big when settled.
Gaikwad also built a massive 195‑run partnership for the third wicket with Virat Kohli, who notched his second hundred of the series – the 53rd ODI ton of his career. Asked about the partnership, he mentioned that it felt like a dream. “I have been able to witness him since last one week now,” he said. “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. Mostly, I was trying to be in my zone and not really think about how he is batting or how he is able to score runs,” he added.
Gaikwad continued, “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. So the chat was around that. I think we had really good running between the wickets as well. Obviously, you dream of these kinds of moments and to be able to have that kind of partnership, I really enjoyed a lot.”
Still, the two centuries fell short as South Africa’s collective effort vaulted the visitors to a four‑wicket win in the second match, tying the series.
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