Ruturaj Gaikwad reveals mindset behind batting at No. 4
What's the story
Indian cricketer Ruturaj Gaikwad has opened up about his confidence in adapting to the No. 4 batting position in ODIs. Despite never having batted there before, Gaikwad was assured by the team management ahead of the South Africa series. Batting at this position, Gaikwad slammed his maiden hundred in the 2nd ODI against South Africa in Raipur. The batsman said he was "pretty much confident" about how to navigate through the innings from that position.
Strategy
Gaikwad's approach to batting at No. 4
Talking about his batting position following the match, Gaikwad said, "[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." He was confident about his ability to rotate strike and find boundary options between overs 11-40.
Match highlights
Gaikwad's historic partnership with Kohli
In the 2nd ODI against South Africa, Gaikwad scored a brilliant 105 off 83 balls. He was involved in a record 195-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who also scored his second consecutive hundred. Talking about the partnership, Gaikwad said it was something "you dream of" and praised Kohli's batting skills during their practice sessions leading up to the match.
Career trajectory
Gaikwad silences his critics
As mentioned, Gaikwad reached his maiden century in ODI cricket. Before this ODI, he had 123 runs from seven games at 17.57 (50s: 1). Questions were raised over his No. 4 spot after the Ranchi ODI, where he fell for 8 (14). The right-handed batter was picked in place of India's regular No. 4 batter Shreyas Iyer, who is out with an injury.
Information
Second-fastest ODI ton for India against SA
According to Cricbuzz, Gaikwad now has the second-fastest ton for India against South Africa in ODI cricket (77 balls). He is only behind former batter Yusuf Pathan, who reached the landmark off 68 balls in Centurion in 2011.
Approach
Batting approach in ODIs
Gaikwad also highlighted his approach of batting till the 45th over. "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, he added. "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."