Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Ruturaj Gaikwad smacks unbeaten century to orchestrate Maharashtra's win

Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad hammered a brilliant 148* off just 74 balls guiding his team to a dominating nine-wicket win over Services in the 2024 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The match, held on December 23 at the MCA Cricket Ground in BKC, Mumbai, saw Gaikwad display batting brilliance.

Chasing a target of 205 runs, Maharashtra's top-order was led by the explosive Gaikwad, who wasted no time in accelerating his innings. His side’s bowlers had earlier done the groundwork, with Pradeep Dadhe and Satyajeet Bachhav picking up three wickets each to restrict Services to a total of 204. 

Opening the batting alongside Om Bhosale, Gaikwad raced to his half-century mark in just 27 balls, before bringing up his century in just 57 balls. His aggressive approach included 16 boundaries and 11 sixes at a strike rate of 200. Maharashtra's score stood at 86/1 in just 8.2 overs, courtesy of Gaikwad's partnership with Bhosale (24 off 20 balls) which formed the backbone of their chase.

Also Read: Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Ishan Kishan smashes 64-ball century against Manipur

Ruturaj, who also captains CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL), didn't show any signs of slowing down, ensuring that Maharashtra crossed the line in just 20.2 overs. His unbeaten 148 helped the side chase down the target with relative ease.

While the Indian national team is currently engaged in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia, Gaikwad’s performance might get significant attention from selectors, especially with the ICC Champions Trophy just around the corner.

The ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy is a crucial selection ground for the Champions Trophy, with players like Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan making a strong case for themselves. Gaikwad’s match-winning performances, including his record-breaking knock in this game, are likely to keep him in the selectors’ thoughts as they look to form a strong squad for the prestigious tournament.