'Look at who he is competing with' - Ravi Ashwin makes bold statement on Ruturaj Gaikwad's international future

Ruturaj Gaikwad racked up a staggering 660 runs at a fantastic average of 220 in just five games at the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022. After being out of the tournament due to injury for a major part, he returned in style and notched up four centuries, including an unbeaten double ton against Uttar Pradesh where he scripted history by smashing seven sixes in an over.

After his heroics at the tournament, he is currently the talk of the town. His numbers in List A cricket are just wonderful, but he still has not received opportunities in India’s ODI, having played just his debut game against South Africa in October. But now, after making it big at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ruturaj Gaikwad has raised the bar high, and Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes so too.

Competition for one spot is heating up: Ashwin

Regarding Gaikwad's chances of making a place in the Indian team, Ashwin drew attention to a grim fact. Gaikwad plays the opener's role in white-ball cricket. While Ashwin underlined the players against whom Gaikwad is trying to battle to get a spot in the squad, let alone the XI, and the youngster's impressive run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy provides a solid argument for his call-up to India once again. While speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said:

“Since he is from India, whom will he replace? Not even replace but look at whom he is competing with. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and we have Rishabh Pant opening as well. India is becoming a difficult country to genuinely play cricket. I mean, competition for one spot is heating up. And Ruturaj is not heating it up; he has taken the solar panel on his head and scored runs for fun. Amazing, very well done, Ruturaj Gaikwad. I am sure all the CSK fans are super happy. It will be a matter of time before Ruturaj Gaikwad sets the world stage on fire.”

Gaikwad did well not just in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but also in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, scoring a whopping 295 runs in six games, but he has made his case stronger now. Speaking of the forthcoming ODI series against Bangladesh, India will have five opening options with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan, KL Rahul, Pant and Ishan Kishan in the squad.