Former India cricketer and now a renowned commentator Aakash Chopra discussed Ruturaj Gaikwad’s potential selection for the T20 World Cup. Gaikwad initially had a slow start in IPL 2024 as the captain of the Super Kings. He faced challenges in converting good starts into big scores but showed improvement in the last two matches.
Chopra recognized that while there is tough competition for the top-order position in the Indian team for the upcoming event in June 2024, Gaikwad might not be the primary selection. However, he feels that the CSK captain should still be included in the discussion based on his previous performances for the team.
Gaikwad has played in 19 matches, scoring a total of 500 runs with a strike rate of 140. He made history by becoming the first Indian player to score a T20I century against Australia. He achieved this milestone with his first international hundred in November 2023.
“So Ruturaj Gaikwad will be my first player to watch out for without a shadow of a doubt. He is a gun player and is batting well. He is not a frontrunner but is part of the T20 World Cup list, and he should be kept as well – he scored a century against Australia. Everyone is spoken about, so why not him?” Chopra added.
While having a conversation on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra identified Gaikwad as the crucial player for CSK in their upcoming match against LSG at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on April 19, Friday. Chopra supported his choice based on Gaikwad’s recent form and his standout performance in the last match against MI.
“My No.1 player in focus is Ruturaj Gaikwad. The first reason for that is the last match’s form. Secondly, this is a big ground. On a big ground, you expect more from a batter who times the ball and puts it into the gaps, chips the ball into the empty big pockets over cover and mid-wicket,” Chopra said.
