Ruturaj Gaikwad has been the undoubted star of the Chennai Super Kings batting line-up in the start of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The opener has scored one century and a fifty in his first two matches and is batting like a dream, having scored 149 runs at an average of 74.50.
As such, many are understandably excited about the prospect of Gaikwad getting more chances with the Indian cricket team in the near future, with one of those people being former India opener Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag, who would know a thing or two about being an explosive opening batsman, praised Gaikwad’s ability to convert his 50s into 100s and said he would not have to wait too long for an India recall.
“It is not about scoring fifties, what he does is he converts those into hundreds. That is what makes him special. When he had scored runs for CSK, two seasons back, he had scored a century as well,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
“But I was surprised he didn’t get more opportunities to play for India because when others get the chance and then they perform, he will have to wait more,” he added.
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Sehwag’s point isn’t without merit – Gaikwad has only played 1 ODI and 9 T20Is for India, and this is despite him being one of the more prolific run-getters not only in the IPL but also in the domestic circuit as well.
However, Sehwag had two bold predictions for Gaikwad’s future – not only does he think an India recall is coming soon, he also sees him as MS Dhoni’s long-term successor in the Chennai Super Kings.
“If this season goes well then, he may not have to wait too long to get into Team India squad. I feel Ruturaj Gaikwad is the ideal successor for MS Dhoni for the captaincy of CSK,” he stated.
There continue to be debates about the long-term future of Dhoni, but the former India captain is showing no signs of slowing down yet and led the team to a win over the Lucknow Super Giants in their first game at Chennai in 4 years.
Gaikwad played a key role in that win too, as he scored an attacking 57 and laid the foundations for CSK to score a total in excess of 200.
Gaikwad currently tops the Orange Cap standings and has previously finished as the top run-getter in the IPL in 2021, when CSK won their last title.
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