New Delhi: Indian batter and Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has said that its hard to replace star player Virat Kohli at the number three spot in T20Is after the batter retired from the shortest format of the game post the culmination of the T20 World Cup 2024. Gaikwad further said that he will just be focusing on making valuable contributions with bat in the team at any position.
Following the retirement of players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja in the shortest format of the game, doors have been open for the upcoming players and Gaikwad happens to be one such talented player who has the potential to seal the number three spot.
Tough to fill in his shoes: Gaikwad
“This is a big topic and I think it’s not the right point to think about it. To even compare with him (Kohli) or try to fill in his shoes is relatively very tough and very hard,” Gaikwad said on the eve of the third T20I against Zimbabwe.
“As I had said in the IPL as well, it is difficult to fill my best shoes as well. Definitely, you want to start your career, you want to start the way you want, you want to play your own game. So that’s the priority right now. Focus on one game, focus on how you can contribute towards the team in whichever position you play and make sure you are on the winning side more often than not.”
Gaikwad has batted at No. 3 position for India in the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe but the Pune-born cricketer said he has no preference and will bat wherever the team requires him.
“No, wherever the team wants, I will bat there. There is no problem. There is not much difference between the opening and the number 3 because you have to play the new ball. So there is not much difference,” he said.
Gaikwad led the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year and he said captaincy has made him to get more involved in the game though it didn’t make any difference to his batting.
Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has said that its tough to replace Virat Kohli at the number three spot in T20Is. Kohli retired from the shortest format after India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
