Former Indian cricketer-turned-cricket expert Aakash Chopra has backed the two young prodigies Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ventakesh Iyer for the upcoming three-match ODI series in South Africa, given their recent stunning form in domestic cricket.
Ruturaj was the highest scorer in the IPL 2021, finishing the season with 635 runs in 16 innings to help Chennai Super Kings lift the fourth title. He also scored a plethora of runs, scoring four hundreds, in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Chopra said on his YouTube channel: “The first name, the name at the top is Ruturaj Gaikwad. I mean he has hit four centuries, at one point he had hit three hundreds in three matches and no one was able to get him out. I saw some of his innings. It seemed like he was playing against kids.”
The commentator further added, “He was only playing the sweep shots against the fast bowlers, who does that? Inside out fours against the spinners. Bowlers were bowling alright but Ruturaj actually looked in a different league altogether. He made 603 runs at an average of 150 and a strike rate of nearly 113. There are four centuries in that, the recent scores are 168, 21, 124, 154*, and 136. It actually felt that the guy is ready for the Indian team.”
Well, there is extreme competition for the opening spots in India’s ODI side, but Chopra is still confident that Ruturaj's name will be discussed in the selection committee meeting for South Africa tour.
He further mentioned, “Of course, whether you select him or not because he is a top-order batter and there is no place there at times and it might not be there now also. Let's be honest, there is Rohit Sharma, there is KL Rahul and there is Shikhar Dhawan - who should be there. But it's absolutely impossible that his name will not be discussed.”
Coming to Venkatesh Iyer, Chopra feels the all-rounder can also make the cut to the India squad for the South Africa tour, being India's only pace-bowling all-round option at the moment. He is also doing well in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, having scored 349 runs in five matches so far.
He had played a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders reaching the final of the IPL 2021, which earned him a maiden call to the India squad for the T20I series against New Zealand at home.
Chopra said, “His name is doing the rounds and it is because the guy is doing well. The last twelve months have been like the guy is dreaming with open eyes, whether it was half the IPL, after that his debut for the Indian team and then such a performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.”
He signed off by saying, “His name is Venkatesh Iyer. He has made 349 runs at an average of 70, a strike rate of 140. The good thing is that he has scored runs while batting down the order because the place is available there only.”
