“Many players get picked for India after 1-2 IPL good knocks” - Mohammad Kaif's stunning claim amid IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former batter Mohammad Kaif made a stunning claim amid the second ODI between India and South Africa on December 3 in Raipur. He reckoned that a lot of players would get picked for the national team based on a few good knocks in the IPL.

Comparing the same to Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mohammad Kaif expressed his happiness that the batter got an opportunity and converted it into a stellar hundred. In the second ODI, Gaikwad made 105 runs off just 83 balls. His knock included 12 boundaries and two maximums at a strike-rate of 126.51.

"Many players get picked for India after 1-2 IPL good knocks. But this guy (Gaikwad) has scored continuously for seven to eight years in domestic cricket. This is why I am genuinely happy that he got an opportunity, and he seized it by scoring a hundred," he said on his YouTube channel.

Mohammad Kaif highlighted how it was a long wait for Gaikwad that made him deserving of the opportunity and the hundred. Gaikwad made his List-A debut in 2017 for Maharashtra against Himachal and scored 132 runs off just 110 balls. While Marco Jansen was initially troubling Gaikwad with bouncers in the second game, Kaif lauded the Indian batter for sticking in the middle and not getting afraid. He credited the same to the years of experience, having played domestic cricket and in the IPL.

"He made his List-A debut eight years back and scored 132. He has been playing since then, and he has scored runs consistently in domestic cricket and got an opportunity now. He scored a timely hundred because it was a long wait. It looked like he would get scared by the bouncers by Jansen but he will not get scared. He has scored so much in domestic cricket and IPL. He is not the one who will get scared. He plays on merit and plays very less risky shots. Any batter who plays fast bowling and spin well can play anywhere. He is an opener but scored a hundred at number four. He can adjust anywhere," he added.

Gaikwad made his ODI debut in 2022 and had last played in 2023 before the South Africa series. His 105 was also his maiden ton in the format for the Men in Blue.

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Mohammad Kaif reckons Ruturaj Gaikwad can do well in all formats

Further, Mohammad Kaif also reckoned that Ruturaj Gaikwad could excel in all formats, given his sound technique, calm and composed nature. He believed that his numbers in domestic cricket and the IPL were testimony to the same.

"Ruturaj Gaikwad has the ability to do well in all formats. I am telling it because he plays on merit, he has a brilliant technique, he is calm and composed. Look at his first-class numbers, look at his IPL numbers, look a his List-A numbers. You will know that he can play well in every format," Mohammad Kaif said.

The right-hander has scored 3146 runs from 43 first-class matches at an average of 45.59 with nine hundreds. In 90 List-A games, he has 4542 runs at an average of 56.77 with 17 hundreds. The 28-year-old has 5002 runs in 151 T20s at an average of 39.07 with six centuries.

In the IPL, he has played 71 matches and has notched up 2502 runs at an average of 40.35 and a strike-rate of 137.47 with two hundreds and 20 half-centuries.