Ruturaj Gaikwad Reflects on Record Partnership with Virat Kohli in Thrilling ODI
A Historic Partnership in Raipur
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 4: Indian batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad shared his thoughts on his remarkable partnership with cricketing icon Virat Kohli, which set a new record. Gaikwad expressed his awe at Kohli's "incredible batting" during practice and matches over the past week, stating that moments like these are what every player dreams of.
The duo forged a stunning 195-run partnership for the third wicket, marking the highest for any wicket in ODIs between India and South Africa. Their collaboration showcased exceptional skill in handling both pace and spin, along with a keen ability to find gaps, rotate the strike, and switch between defensive and aggressive play as needed.
Reflecting on his experience, Ruturaj noted that Kohli has been in phenomenal form, both in practice and during the game. Their discussions focused on strategies for finding gaps and effectively rotating the strike.
"Having the best seat in the house, I have witnessed Virat's remarkable batting since last week. His ability to translate that into match performance is impressive. In this game, I focused on my own game rather than how he was scoring. Our conversations revolved around setting small targets, maneuvering gaps, and running between the wickets effectively. These are the moments you dream about," Ruturaj shared during the post-match press conference.
This partnership surpassed the previous record of 194 runs set by Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik in the Gwalior ODI in 2010, where Tendulkar became the first male cricketer to score a double century in ODIs.
In 12 ODIs this year, Kohli has amassed 586 runs in 12 innings, averaging 58.60 with a strike rate of 92.72, including three centuries and three fifties, with a top score of 135.
In the Raipur ODI, India batted first after being put in by the South African team, who had reduced them to 62/2 with the dismissals of Rohit Sharma (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (22). Kohli scored 102 runs off 93 balls, while Ruturaj contributed 105 runs off 83 balls, leading to a commanding position for India. KL Rahul (66* off 43 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (24* off 27 balls) added a quick 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket to finish strong.
Marco Jansen was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 2 wickets for 63 runs.
The South African chase began with aggressive boundaries, but they lost Quinton de Kock early. Captain Temba Bavuma (46 off 48 balls) and Aiden Markram formed a crucial 101-run partnership. Markram scored his fourth ODI century, finishing with 110 runs off 98 balls.
A pivotal 92-run partnership between Matthew Breetzke (68 off 64 balls) and Dewald Brevis (54 off 34 balls) shifted the momentum in favor of South Africa. Despite injuries to Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj (10*) and Corbin Bosch (25*) guided South Africa to a memorable victory with four wickets remaining and four balls to spare.
Arshdeep Singh was India's leading bowler with figures of 2/54, while Harshit Rana's performance suffered after a poor over. Prasidh Krishna's disappointing outing, conceding 82 runs in 8.2 overs, was a significant factor in South Africa's triumph.
An exciting decider is set for Saturday.