India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test matches, Ravichandran Ashwin, said that even if star batter Shreyas Iyer returns to the team, Ruturaj Gaikwad should still be given a place in the line-up.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “Even if Shreyas Iyer comes back, you can still accommodate Ruturaj. Would you want to push Ruturaj up the order, or even Virat can do that, batting up the order. He has done it in T20s. A player with such a pedigree like Ruturaj must be given a long run.”
Gaikwad is currently playing at No. 4 in the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa in place of Shreyas, who was injured during the Australia tour. While he was dismissed early in the first match, he played a superb knock in the second match, scoring the first hundred of his ODI career.
Ashwin also said that Gaikwad has the potential to be the ideal No. 4 batter and explained why.
“But you do not have to look at him with such impatience. Ruturaj has all the possibilities to bat at number four. He can play seamers well. The only way to get him out if the ball swings initially. That will get eliminated if he bats at number four. Spin, no one can play better than him. He is also very quick on his feet and runs very well between the wickets. He has every shot in the book. Beyond this, a player does not need to prove anything else to bat at No. 4.”
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