Gaikwad Bats at No.4 for First Time

Ruturaj Gaikwad is one of the few Indian cricketers who consistently averages above
55 in List A matches. His smooth batting style, good timing, and strong technique have
made him one of India’s most dependable players in 50-over cricket. But on Sunday
(November 30, 2025) in Ranchi, when he returned to India’s ODI team after 16 months,
Gaikwad faced a completely new challenge.

For the first time in his 87 List A innings, Gaikwad batted at No. 4. Before this, he
had batted at No. 3 only five times; all his other innings were as an opener.
His success in List A cricket has come mainly from opening the batting, so this
new role was something he had never done before.