Gaikwad on 2nd ODI: Middle-order batting brings different challenges
Synopsis
Ruturaj Gaikwad — a career opener with over 100 first-class innings at the top — opens up on the mental and tactical shift required to bat at number four in international ODIs. With India 1-0 up and Gaikwad unbeaten in the series opener, his ability to adapt could shape his longer-term ODI future.
Key Takeaways
Ruturaj Gaikwad spoke ahead of the 2nd ODI in Guwahati on 30 September about the unique demands of middle-order batting.
Gaikwad has batted at number four for India in ODIs, scoring 241 runs including a century and a fifty in ten appearances.
He has spent over 100 innings as an opener at the first-class level, making the middle-order role a significant positional shift.
His last ODI century came against South Africa in December 2025 ; he was unbeaten on 13 in India's eight-wicket win in Thiruvananthapuram .
Gaikwad said managing uncertainty over selection requires focusing on 'giving your best' rather than looking too far ahead.
India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has acknowledged that shifting from his natural opening role to the middle order in international cricket brings a distinct set of challenges, including the need to rotate the strike smartly and make sharp tactical adjustments on the fly. Speaking ahead of the 2nd ODI in Guwahati on 30 September, Gaikwad was candid about the nervousness that comes with returning to the national side after a gap.
The Opening-to-Middle Order Transition
Gaikwad has spent the overwhelming majority of his career as an opener, accumulating over 100 innings at the top of the order in first-class cricket. When called up for India in ODIs, he has at times been deployed at number four — a position that demands a fundamentally different mindset. In ten ODIs, he has scored 241 runs, including a century and a half-century.
'There is a lot of difference. As I said, I've been opening the batting for almost more than 100 innings now at the first-class level. So, batting middle order, especially at international cricket, comes with different challenges. You have to rotate the strike. You have to make sure that you take the right option,' Gaikwad said in a pre-match conversation with broadcasters.
He added: 'And often when we are batting in powerplay, you get those easy boundaries, the fielders are inside. But batting middle order, you just have to make sure you make that adjustment and, as I said, just back your strengths, whatever it is.'
Returning After a Long Gap
Gaikwad's last notable international knock — a century against South Africa in December 2025 — feels distant, he admitted. A busy IPL season and outings at different batting positions in between have kept him in competitive rhythm, but the jump back to international cricket still carries its own pressure.
'That was a long way ago, to be honest. I had many innings in between. Obviously IPL was there as well. So played in different conditions, played at different numbers. So obviously to come back at international level after a long time, obviously there is a lot of nervousness. But I think last game it was much better to just go in there and just hang around a bit,' he said.
Gaikwad was unbeaten on 13 in the eight-wicket win in Thiruvananthapuram in the series opener, a restrained but useful contribution as India chased down a modest target.
Managing Sporadic International Opportunities
One of the recurring themes in Gaikwad's international career has been the irregularity of his appearances — a reality he has had to mentally navigate alongside the expectations that come with being a premier domestic performer. He said staying focused on the present rather than fixating on future selection has been his coping mechanism.
'Well, it is just about giving your best. As long as you are getting to play for India, getting the opportunity to play for India, it is just about going in there and giving your best and not thinking too far ahead about whether the opportunities will come or not. Yes, sometimes it's hard to process, but obviously, you have to enjoy it. You have to enjoy playing for your country,' Gaikwad concluded.
What to Watch in the 2nd ODI
With India already 1-0 up in the series following the Thiruvananthapuram win, the Guwahati fixture gives the team management an opportunity to test Gaikwad's adaptability in the middle order under match conditions. His performances in this series could strengthen — or complicate — his case for a more permanent place in India's ODI plans heading into upcoming bilateral assignments.
Point of View
A position that requires a wholly different instinct. His honesty about nervousness and positional adjustment reflects the psychological cost of irregular selection, which rarely enters the official narrative. India's batting depth is genuinely strong, but rotating quality players through unfamiliar roles without consistent runs of opportunity risks blunting their natural game. The more revealing question is whether the team management has a clear, long-term vision for Gaikwad's role — or whether he remains a tactical stopgap.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ruturaj Gaikwad say about batting in the middle order?
Gaikwad said transitioning from his regular opening role to number four in international ODIs comes with different challenges, particularly around rotating the strike and making tactical adjustments. He noted that in the powerplay, boundaries come more easily, but the middle order demands a sharper awareness of options.
How has Ruturaj Gaikwad performed in ODIs so far?
In ten ODIs, Gaikwad has scored 241 runs, including one century and one half-century, largely batting at number four. His last ODI century came against South Africa in December 2025.
What happened in the 1st ODI ahead of the Guwahati match?
India won the first ODI in Thiruvananthapuram by eight wickets. Gaikwad came in and remained unbeaten on 13 as India successfully chased down the target.
How does Gaikwad handle the uncertainty of irregular international selection?
Gaikwad said he focuses on giving his best whenever he gets the opportunity, rather than worrying about whether future chances will come. He acknowledged it is sometimes hard to process but stressed the importance of enjoying representing the country.
Why is Gaikwad batting at number four instead of opening for India?
Gaikwad has primarily been deployed at number four when a vacancy exists in India's playing eleven, despite being a career opener with over 100 first-class innings at the top of the order. The team management has not publicly detailed the long-term rationale for the positional shift.
