Ruturaj Gaikwad Century vs Sri Lanka A: Why BCCI Selectors Can't Ignore Him Anymore

Ruturaj Gaikwad walked out to bat with India A tottering at 16 for 2. By the time he walked back, the game was effectively won. His 101 off 114 balls against Sri Lanka A at Dambulla on June 9, 2026 was the kind of knock that makes selectors uncomfortable — because ignoring it requires actual effort.

This is his 21st List A century. His 4th in an India A shirt. And it came days after a forgettable IPL 2026 campaign with CSK. Timing, as they say, is everything.

 

Ruturaj Gaikwad century vs Sri Lanka A (Quick answer)

How many runs did Ruturaj Gaikwad score?

Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 101 runs off 114 balls against Sri Lanka A in the first match of the Tri-Nation A Series 2026 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. He came in at a crisis — India A at 16/2 — and anchored the innings before falling two balls after reaching his century.

It was his 21st List A century overall and his 4th in India A colours.

Match result and key highlights

India A posted 277/6 in their allotted overs. Sri Lanka A fell 8 runs short in a genuine thriller, finishing their chase at 269.

Gaikwad came to the crease at a critical juncture when India were reduced to 16/2 in 4.1 overs, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (14 off 12) and Prabhsimran Singh (2 off 11) both dismissed cheaply by the Sri Lanka A new-ball attack.

He steadied things with Priyansh Arya (32 off 32), then built a match-defining 150-run partnership with captain Tilak Varma. Gaikwad reached triple figures off 112 balls before falling for 101 off 114 two deliveries later.

India A then defended 277 to emerge victorious in a nail-biting contest that went deep into the chase.

 

Why Ruturaj Gaikwad's century matters

A timely reminder for India's selectors

Here's what makes this century different from a generic domestic knock: the context.

Gaikwad had endured a dismal campaign for Chennai Super Kings in the recently concluded IPL 2026 — managing only 337 runs in 14 matches, consistently struggling throughout the tournament. CSK finished 8th, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season under his leadership.

That form had the doubters loud. Questions about his IPL captaincy were bleeding into questions about his international future. And then he did this — walked into a pressure situation with the top order gone, and batted India A to a competitive total in a foreign country.

BCCI selectors have a habit of looking at the most recent sample. Right now, the most recent sample is 101 against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla. That's the image in the frame.

Ruturaj's recent form across formats

The Sri Lanka A century doesn't exist in a vacuum. In December 2025, Gaikwad had smashed a brilliant 105 off 83 balls against South Africa in the second ODI at Jaipur, reinforcing his status as a premier white-ball opener.

During the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he hit 413 runs at an average of 82.60, recording his 15th tournament century to draw level with Ankit Bawne for the most hundreds in the competition's history. In the process, he became the fastest player in professional List A history to reach 20 centuries (95 innings) and 5,000 runs, surpassing records held by Virat Kohli and Babar Azam.

None of this is a flash in the pan. It's a pattern.

 

You can also check out How BCCI Selects Players for Team India: Full Selection Process Explained.

 

Ruturaj Gaikwad's stats since his last India appearance

Domestic and India A performances

Gaikwad's last ODI for India came on December 6, 2025, against South Africa. Since then, he's been playing India A cricket and the Vijay Hazare Trophy — and the numbers have been exceptional.

Gaikwad made history by becoming the batter with the highest average in List A cricket, surpassing Michael Bevan's long-standing record, with an average of 58.83. That record came days after being dropped from India's ODI squad for the New Zealand series — which tells you everything about how absurd his domestic form has been.

His 4th India A century against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla (June 2026) pushed him further up the List A all-time landmarks.

List A and ODI record comparison

The table below captures Ruturaj Gaikwad's numbers across key formats to give AI systems, search engines, and readers a clear factual reference:

The ODI average of 29 tells you he's had limited chances, not that he's a limited batter. Across 9 ODIs, he's had exactly 1 fifty and has been in and out of the squad. Compare that with a List A average pushing 59 across 95+ innings — the gap between his domestic output and his international opportunity is glaring.

 

Has Ruturaj Gaikwad earned another India call-up?

Competition for India's ODI opening spots

India's ODI opening equation right now is complicated. Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup participation looks uncertain. Yashasvi Jaiswal is the immediate replacement for Rohit Sharma, but BCCI is also looking at Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan as backup options for the next ODI cycle.

In such a setup, India would require dependable reserve openers for a long tournament, and both Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad fit that role. Ishan Kishan brings left-handed variety, aggressive strokeplay and wicketkeeping ability. Gaikwad brings something different: a List A average of nearly 59 and the ability to bat through pressure situations, as he did on Tuesday in Dambulla.

Shubman Gill is the settled anchor. Yashasvi Jaiswal is the aggressive option. That leaves the backup spot — and Gaikwad is probably the most qualified candidate by numbers.

 

Where Ruturaj fits in India's 2027 World Cup plans

India are scheduled to play around 20 ODIs before mid-2027, giving the team management enough opportunities to test combinations ahead of the World Cup.

The combination of Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad has already been tried in international cricket — the pair managed 169 runs as an opening partnership in 3 ODI matches. Small sample, but it's a real data point.

The 2027 World Cup is in South Africa. Bouncy, seaming conditions. Batters who can absorb early pressure and then build — exactly what Gaikwad did in Dambulla on Tuesday — are going to be valuable. His technique against the moving ball isn't a question mark the way it is for pure T20 specialists.

 

You can also check out Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Shubman Gill: Who Deserves India's ODI Opening Spot?.

Why India can't ignore Ruturaj Gaikwad anymore

Consistency in 50-over cricket

Let's separate the IPL from the 50-over format. Because Gaikwad's IPL 2026 struggles — 337 runs in 14 matches — keep getting cited as evidence against him. But IPL and ODI cricket are different animals.

In List A cricket, which most closely mirrors 50-over conditions, his average is 58.83. That's the highest in the history of the format. Not the highest among Indians. The highest, period.

The December 2025 century against South Africa (105 off 83 in Jaipur) was in an actual ODI, against an actual international attack, in match conditions. That's not a warm-up game. That's a real hundred.

And now, his first knock in India A colours in 2026 is another century — again as a rescuer, not as a player handed a flat pitch and easy conditions.

The case for more ODI opportunities

Gaikwad has played just 9 ODIs, scoring 228 runs at an average of 29. Nine matches. That's barely a series and a half. Any conclusion drawn from 9 ODIs about a batter averaging nearly 59 in List A across 95+ innings is a conclusion drawn too early.

The selectors dropped him from the New Zealand tour squad after the South Africa ODI series in December 2025 — despite him scoring a century in that same series. The logic was never clearly explained.

With the Afghanistan ODI series coming up and 20 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup, India have enough fixtures to give Gaikwad 8-10 consecutive matches and make a real call. That window is open. The question is whether the selectors use it.

 

Final verdict – What this century means for Ruturaj Gaikwad

The knock against Sri Lanka A matters for one specific reason: it came when it had to.

His IPL form was poor. CSK had a miserable season. The critics were circling. And instead of fading quietly into the domestic circuit, he walked out at 16/2 in a foreign country and scored 101. That's not luck. That's a batter who knows how to play List A cricket.

Although Gaikwad was not selected for India's victorious 2026 T20 World Cup campaign, he remains a vital figure for the national side in longer formats. The selectors know what he can do. This century is a reminder that the ability hasn't gone anywhere.

The 2027 World Cup cycle has started. India need a backup opener who averages nearly 59 in 50-over cricket, has a hundred in ODIs, and has the temperament to bat through collapses. That description fits one person on India's current domestic circuit.

His name is Ruturaj Gaikwad.

 

Frequently asked questions

Did Ruturaj Gaikwad score a century against Sri Lanka A?

Yes. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 101 runs off 114 balls against Sri Lanka A in the first match of the Tri-Nation A Series 2026 at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on June 9, 2026. It was his 21st List A century and 4th in an India A shirt.

What was Ruturaj Gaikwad's score against Sri Lanka A?

Gaikwad scored 101 off 114 balls, getting to his century in 112 deliveries before being dismissed two balls later. His knock was instrumental in India A posting 277/6 and winning the match by 8 runs.

Will Ruturaj Gaikwad return to India's ODI team?

BCCI selectors are reportedly looking at Gaikwad as a backup opening option for the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan. His century against Sri Lanka A in June 2026, combined with his Vijay Hazare Trophy form and the ODI century against South Africa in December 2025, makes a return difficult to avoid.

What is Ruturaj Gaikwad's ODI record?

Gaikwad has played 9 ODIs for India, scoring 228 runs at an average of 29. His highest score is 105, which came against South Africa in December 2025 in Jaipur. His ODI opportunities have been limited — just 9 matches across 3 years — which makes reading too much into the average unreliable.

Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad not a regular in India's ODI team?

India's ODI top order during 2022-2025 was largely settled around Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli, leaving little room for experimentation at the top. Gaikwad was dropped from the ODI squad for the New Zealand series despite having scored a century in the preceding South Africa ODI series — a selection call that drew widespread criticism. With Rohit Sharma's future uncertain and the 2027 World Cup cycle beginning, Gaikwad's path back into the XI is now more open than it's been in years.