IND vs SA 2025: Ruturaj Gaikwad Smashes Maiden ODI Century in Raipur

Ruturaj Gaikwad finally got his first ODI hundred and he did it in style in the second match against South Africa in Raipur. He hammered 105 runs off 83 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes. The crowd sensed it early because he looked calm from the start.

He reached the milestone in just 77 balls. It is now the second fastest ODI hundred by an Indian against South Africa. The dressing room was on its feet as he raised his bat. Gaikwad said later that he felt relieved and happy to convert a good start.

His knock came at the perfect time for India. Virat Kohli also scored a century at the other end. Their partnership pushed India towards a huge score and South Africa struggled to pull things back.

Gaikwad’s rise in one day cricket has been steady. With this innings, he now holds the highest List A batting average in the world. This puts him ahead of Michael Bevan who held the mark for many years. It adds weight to his case as a long term top order option for India.

Gaikwad’s IPL journey

He has been a key part of Chennai Super Kings since 2020. He took over the captaincy in IPL 2024 after MS Dhoni stepped aside. Things did not go well in IPL 2025 as CSK finished last. Gaikwad also missed many games due to an elbow injury that slowed the team’s plans.

Even so, CSK has backed him again. The franchise has confirmed he will continue as captain in IPL 2026. They believe his calm style and sharp batting will guide the team better next season.

Back in Raipur, India ended on 358 for 5. KL Rahul added a fast fifty that lifted the total even higher. It was a strong batting show with Gaikwad’s maiden century at the heart of it.