Chennai Super Kings’ captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has carried his amazing form into the change of format and smashed another century in the unofficial ODI game between India A and South Africa A at Rajkot.
It was a gritty knock by Gaikwad, who scored 117 runs from 129 balls, that included 12 fours. With this knock of his, he gave his team a chance to chase down the massive total of 285 that South Africa had posted.
Playing under the captaincy of Tilak Varma, India had a great start to the game. Their bowlers were dominating the game, reducing South Africa to 53 for 5 in just 12 overs.
Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna were the pick of the bowlers for India in the early stages of the game. They shared three wickets among themselves of the five. But that’s where the dominance ended.
South Africa’s lower order showed great grit to stage a comeback. Inspired by Dian Forrester’s 77-run knock, along with a 90 by Potgieter, and Fortuin’s 59, South Africa recovered towards the end to post a competitive total.
Ruturaj’s elegant 117 vs South Africa A
In the second inning, India had a great start, with Gaikwad and Abhishek Sharma adding 64 runs for the first wicket. Sharma was certainly the aggressor with 31 runs from just 25 balls.
But his wicket brought two more, as Parag and Verma couldn’t add much to the total. That’s where Gaikwad showed his experience and decided to pace the inning on his own.
Gaikwad played some magnificent yet safe shots to score the necessary boundaries. He kept forming partnerships with every batter who came on the crease to ensure that the tempo of the runs didn’t drop. And in doing so, he brought up a well-deserved hundred as well.
The game was later closed out by Nitish Kumar Reddy and Nishant Sindhu. Both the batters ensured that India won the game with wickets to spare and balls in hand.
Eventually, Gaikwad was also adjudged as the player of the match for his amazing knock.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s top performances in 2025
Gaikwad’s innings of 117 is an addition to his already long list of top knocks from this season. He has been in sublime form this domestic season, stepping up when his team needed him the most. In the Buchi Babu Trophy 2025, he slammed a commanding century—133 off 144 balls—to make a clear statement after a lean patch and return from injury.
Then, in the Duleep Trophy 2025‑26 semi-final, with his side in early trouble, Gaikwad produced a masterclass 184 off 206 balls for West Zone, rescuing the innings with poise and precision.
His form has carried over to the Ranji Trophy 2025‑26: in the opener for Maharashtra, he came in when the top order had collapsed to 5/4, scored 91, then an unbeaten 55 to secure a first-innings lead. In a subsequent match, he scored 116 off 163 balls against Chandigarh, once again taking responsibility under pressure.
What stands out is his elegant batting style. He drives and cuts with conviction, picks gaps smartly and accelerates when the situation demands. He has sharp situational awareness: he knows when the team is wobbling; when the team is wobbling, he slows down and rebuilds; when partners are with him, he shifts gear.
Gaikwad has shown that he can be the crisis-man who carries the team: rescuing collapses, putting the side back on track, not merely contributing but leading the run-crunch. If you’re writing a profile on him, emphasise how this season Gaikwad isn’t just accumulating runs—he’s doing so under pressure, with purpose, and making himself indispensable in red-ball domestic cricket.
