Rituraj Gaikwad has returned to the playing eleven of the ODI team for the first time since December 2023. In the first ODI match against South Africa, he could not capitalize on the opportunity and was out after scoring only 8 runs. But in the second ODI match played in Raipur, he scored a century of 105 runs in 83 balls. This is the first century of his ODI career. In fact, even after this century, the chances of Gaikwad getting a confirmed place in the playing eleven are slim. You will also be shocked to know the reason for this.

Will Gaikwad be out?

When the Indian ODI squad against South Africa was announced, captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer were not there. On one hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal has got a chance to open in place of injured Gill, on the other hand, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer plays at number-4, Rituraj Gaikwad has got a chance at this position in both the matches against South Africa. But when Iyer returns to the team, Gaikwad’s place in the playing eleven will be in danger.

Can you get a chance at some other position?

If we look at the first five batting order of the Indian team, they are solid. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul play on these. Only the sixth order is left for batting, because usually the all-rounder player plays at the 7th order. But with Washington Sundar getting continuous opportunities and Ravindra Jadeja being in the squad, Rituraj Gaikwad will not be able to make a place in the playing eleven.

Looking at all these aspects, it is not wrong to say that even after the century inning of 105 runs in Raipur, Gaikwad’s place in the playing eleven is not safe. Gaikwad may sit out after Shreyas Iyer’s return from injury.

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Ruturaj Gaikwad completed his century in 77 balls in the second ODI against South Africa. This is the first ODI century of his career. He made a partnership of 195 runs with Virat Kohli for the third wicket. Gaikwad was out on the ball of Yansen after scoring 105 runs.

When Rituraj Gaikwad came, India had lost 2 wickets at the score of 62, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal were out and returned to the pavilion. It was expected that now the pace of runs would slow down, but Kohli and Gaikwad did not let this happen. Both of them moved the innings forward with caution and also hit the loose balls hard.

Rituraj Gaikwad created history

Rituraj Gaikwad has become the second fastest batsman to score a century in India vs South Africa ODI. He completed his century in 77 balls. In this matter, only Yusuf Pathan is ahead of him, who completed his century in 68 balls in 2011. This was Rituraj Gaikwad’s 8th ODI International, before this he had scored 50 plus score once.

Virat Kohli scored his second consecutive century

After Ranchi, Virat Kohli also scored a century in Raipur, he scored 102 runs in 93 balls. In this he hit 2 sixes and 7 fours. This is Kohli’s 84th international and 53rd ODI century.

This is Virat Kohli’s 7th ODI century against South Africa. He has become the batsman to score the most centuries in India vs South Africa ODI, leaving behind Quinton de Kock (6 centuries).

India’s playing 11

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (captain, wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.

South Africa’s playing 11

Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Mathieu Bretzke, Tony De Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Berger, Lungi Ngidi.