Gaikwad, batting at No. 4 for India, reached his half-century against South Africa in Raipur with a steady 52-ball effort.
Gaikwad Reaches Fifty After Long Gap
Ruturaj Gaikwad finally brought up his much-awaited second ODI half-century on Wednesday (December 3) during the second ODI against South Africa at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Coming in at No. 4, the right-hander took 52 balls to raise his fifty, striking four boundaries and one six along the way.
His partnership with Virat Kohli proved crucial for India, as the pair added 96 runs for the third wicket. Kohli also completed his 76th ODI fifty during the stand, helping India build a strong platform.
First ODI Fifty Since September 2023
This knock marked Gaikwad’s second ODI half-century and his first since September 22, 2023, when he scored 71 off 77 balls against Australia in Mohali while opening the innings. With this fifty ending an 803-day drought for a 50-plus score in ODIs, Gaikwad will now look to convert it into a substantial innings to bolster India’s total.
Answering Critics After Ranchi Failure
Gaikwad also batted at No. 4 in the Ranchi ODI, but managed just 8 runs — a performance that drew criticism and raised doubts about his role at that position. However, his assured innings in Raipur has gone a long way in silencing those concerns, especially as he raised his fifty before Kohli this time.
Jaiswal’s Struggles Continue at the Top
With Shubman Gill unavailable due to injury, Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to open the innings for India but once again fell short of expectations. Just like in the first ODI, he began with a first-ball four but struggled to rotate strike thereafter.
Jaiswal was dismissed by Marco Jansen in the 10th over after making 22 off 38 balls, hitting two fours and a six. His back-to-back low scores will keep the spotlight on India’s opening combination as the series progresses.
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