Ruturaj Gaikwad has written a new chapter in Indian cricket history by overtaking Virat Kohli to become the Indian batter with the highest batting average in List A cricket among players with at least 50 innings. Gaikwad’s average climbed to 57.69, narrowly edging past Kohli’s 57.67 mark, during a Vijay Hazare Trophy match where he scored a valuable 66 against Mumbai.
This milestone reflects Gaikwad’s remarkable consistency in 50-over cricket over the years. He has been a reliable run-scorer for Maharashtra, first drawing attention in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2016–17 and becoming one of the tournament’s top performers early in his career.
Ruturaj Gaikwad continues his dominance
Beyond this record, Gaikwad’s batting form has been impressive across formats. Domestically, he has delivered key innings in the Ranji Trophy, posting notable scores that underline his technique and temperament in the longer game. He also featured in the Irani Cup for Rest of India, where he showed resilience and leadership after returning from injury earlier in the season.
On the international stage, Gaikwad’s recent performance in ODIs has been strong as well. He struck a memorable century for India against South Africa, scoring 105 runs in an ODI innings at home, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure against quality bowling attacks.
Despite this red-hot form across List A, domestic first-class, and ODI formats — along with sustained consistency — Gaikwad was surprisingly left out of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming New Zealand series. That omission has sparked debate, given his standout record and the timing of the home series.
In an era where players are judged by performance in all formats, Gaikwad’s rise — culminating in surpassing a legend like Kohli in List A average — speaks volumes about his growth, consistency, and readiness for greater responsibility on bigger stages.
