Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been on a roll in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022. The batter is now gearing up to lead his side against Saurashtra in the final of the tournament on December 2.
Despite missing the majority of the league stage, Gaikwad is currently the fourth-leading run-scorer of the tournament with 552 runs in four games. While his average reads 276, he has been striking over 120 (122.66). The tally includes three centuries, including a double-ton as well.
Gaikwad now boasts the highest batting average in the history of List A cricket (60.40). He has so far scored 3,926 in 70 games with the help of 14 centuries and 16 fifties, striking at 101.63. While no other batter averages over 60 in the format, England's Sam Hain (58.54) holds the second position.
Such has been Gaikwad's consistency that he scored seven centuries in his last nine outings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 168 (126), 220* (159), 40 (42), 124* (123), 168 (132), 21 (18), 124 (129), 154* (143), and 136 (112) read his last nine scores.
Gaikwad brought his A-game out in the quarter-final clash against Uttar Pradesh. The 25-year-old smashed 220 runs off 159 balls, the highest List-A score for a Maharashtra batter. It was also his maiden double ton in the format. Gaikwad mustered a total of 16 sixes in the contest, most for a batter in a VHT match.
Gaikwad smashed spinner Shiva Singh for seven sixes in an over (49th) in the quarter-final contest. The latter, who bowled one no-ball in that over, became the first bowler to concede seven sixes to the same batter in one over of List-A cricket.