Ruturaj Gaikwad Sets New Record in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Ruturaj Gaikwad has made headlines with his outstanding performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring an unbeaten 134 runs and breaking a long-standing record. His impressive average in List A cricket positions him as a formidable player, despite limited opportunities in the Indian ODI team. This article delves into his remarkable achievements and the challenges he faces in maintaining his consistency. Discover how Gaikwad's contributions have made it difficult for selectors to ignore his talent in domestic cricket.
| Jan 8, 2026, 17:26 IST
Ruturaj Gaikwad's Historic Performance
In the final league match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy held at Dr. Soni Stadium in Jaipur, Ruturaj Gaikwad showcased exceptional leadership for Maharashtra. He scored an unbeaten 134 runs off 131 balls, breaking a world record that stood for 20 years. Gaikwad is now making history with the highest average in List A cricket. For those unfamiliar with List A cricket, it encompasses all One Day matches, both domestic and international, played worldwide.
Maharashtra's captain has accumulated 5050 runs in 95 innings at an impressive average of 58.72, which includes 20 centuries and 19 half-centuries. Despite his remarkable consistency in this format, he has not had many opportunities to represent India. Notably, he was excluded from the upcoming New Zealand series despite scoring a brilliant century against South Africa at home.
Bevan held the record for the highest average in List A cricket for 20 years, amassing 15,103 runs in 385 innings at an average of 57.86 in the 50-over format. Maintaining such consistency over time will be a significant challenge for Ruturaj. However, at present, he seems unstoppable in this format. Although he hasn't received many chances in the Indian ODI team, his outstanding performances in domestic cricket make it increasingly difficult for selectors to overlook him. During his remarkable innings of 134 against Goa, he crossed the 5000-run milestone. Thanks to his efforts, Maharashtra posted a competitive total of 249 runs for the loss of seven wickets, recovering from a precarious position of 25/5 and 52/6.