"I don't know why, how and where that noise comes from" - Ex-CSK teammate's huge take on Ruturaj Gaikwad after IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes Ruturaj Gaikwad must be given a longer rope, preferably at No.4, after his heroics in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur. Playing only his eighth ODI since debuting three years back, the 28-year-old scored his maiden ODI century.

Gaikwad's 83-ball 105 helped India post a massive 358 in their 50 overs. Despite predominantly opening the batting for the national side in his career, the right-hander looked at ease at No. 4.

Talking about the narrative on Gaikwad and his future, Ashwin said on his YouTube channel (15:15):

"There are some players where the outside noise immediately gets to their neck. Some get noise that they are very talented and should be given a long rope. But I don't know why, how and where that noise comes from. For Ruturaj, when he performed well, he never got the long run. Sometimes he has also been injured, which is unfortunate."

He continued:

"But you don't have to look at him with such impatience. Ruturaj has all the possibilities to bat at No. 4. He can play seamers well. The only way to get him out if the ball swings initially. That'll get eliminated if he bats at No. 4. Spin no one can play better than him. He's also very quick on his feet and runs very well between the wickets. He has every shot in the book. Beyond this, a player doesn't need to prove anything else to bat at No. 4."

Ashwin believes Gaikwad can continue in the Indian ODI side even with Shreyas Iyer's return.

"Even if Shreyas Iyer comes back, you can still accommodate Ruturaj. Would you want to push Ruturaj up the order or even Virat can do that, batting up the order. He has done it in T20s. A player with such a pedigree like Ruturaj must be given a long run," he stated.

In all, Gaikwad has played only 31 white-ball matches for India since his international debut in 2021.

"Both batted brilliantly, what complementary batting" - R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin hailed the Ruturaj Gaikwad-Virat Kohli partnership for how the duo complemented each other in the second South African ODI. Coming together with India in a spot of bother at 61/2, the pair effortlessly added 195 runs for the third wicket to leave the side in a dominant position.

"It was Raja and King - Raja square. Ruturaja and King Raja in Kohli. Both batted brilliantly, what complementary batting. But it was totally trumped by South Africa. Though their knocks went in vain, their combination got set superbly. Maharaj has been a linchpin for South Africa, but once Ruturaj took him down, he had no answers. Virat Kohli's solidity and Ruturaj Gaikwad's play against spin should be spoken about. Without Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj has shown he can play in double gear," said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).

While it was Gaikwad's first ODI century, Kohli extended his all-time record to 53 ODI tons with his 93-ball 102. Yet, despite the duo's heroics, India suffered a final-over defeat, leaving the series at 1-1 with the decider on Saturday, December 6.