Ruturaj Gaikwad's Crucial Opportunity Ahead of ICC Cricket World Cup 2027

As Ruturaj Gaikwad prepares for the upcoming ODIs against the West Indies, he stands at a pivotal moment in his career. With Shreyas Iyer absent, Ruturaj has the chance to showcase his skills and secure a spot in the Indian squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. His impressive List A record and recent performances make him a key player to watch. Will he capitalize on this opportunity and solidify his position in the team? Read on to find out more about his journey and what lies ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 27, 2026, 00:03 IST

Ruturaj Gaikwad's ODI Comeback Against West Indies

Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], September 26: The forthcoming One Day Internationals (ODIs) against the West Indies may serve as a significant milestone for Ruturaj Gaikwad's international career as he eyes the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027.

The first ODI is scheduled for this Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram. Ruturaj returns to the squad as a middle-order batsman, filling in for Shreyas Iyer, who is currently in Japan leading the T20I team at the Asian Games.

Having won the IPL 2021 Orange Cap with an impressive 635 runs, Ruturaj has had limited opportunities in ODIs despite his remarkable performance in List A cricket.

In his nine ODIs, he has accumulated 228 runs over eight innings, averaging 28.50 with a strike rate of 89.50. His best performance came last year against South Africa, where he scored 105 runs while stepping in for the injured Shreyas.

At 29, Ruturaj boasts one of the finest List A records globally, amassing 5,334 runs in 104 matches at an average of 58.61, including 21 centuries and 20 fifties, with a top score of 220* and a strike rate of 101.23.

Although his recent performances in red-ball cricket for India A and the Duleep Trophy were not up to par, he remains a formidable player in the 50-over format for India, India A, and Maharashtra.

Since the IPL 2025, Ruturaj has been in exceptional form in the 50-over format. His performance breakdown includes:

South Africa A tour of India (November 2025): 210 runs in three innings, averaging 105.00, with one century and one fifty, best score of 117.

South Africa vs India ODIs (November to December 2025): 113 runs in two innings, averaging 56.50, with a top score of 105.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 (December to January 2025): 413 runs in seven innings at an average of 82.60, including two centuries and a fifty, with a best score of 134* (top-scorer for Maharashtra).

India A tour to Sri Lanka for the tri-nation series (June 2026): 274 runs in five innings, averaging 54.80, with one century and one fifty, best score of 101.

Overall, these performances yield a total of 1,010 runs in 17 innings at an average of 72.14, featuring five centuries and three fifties.

This comes at a time when Shreyas Iyer is occupied with T20I captaincy and is experiencing a dip in form, having scored only 219 runs in nine innings at an average of 27.37, with just one fifty.

With Iyer unavailable, a strong showing in these three ODIs could position Ruturaj as a potential backup for the 2027 World Cup, as Team India's middle-order seeks to bolster support for the top three batsmen: skipper Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

Will this series mark a turning point in Ruturaj's career with the national team? Could he secure a spot on the flight to South Africa? The opportunity is in Ruturaj's hands to seize.