Ruturaj Gaikwad Surpasses Virat Kohli to Set New List A Record
Ruturaj Gaikwad breaks Virat Kohli’s List A average record after a fluent 66, boosting his case in India’s ODI plans.
Ruturaj Gaikwad has added another big line to his domestic record book. The Maharashtra opener now holds the highest List A batting average by an Indian, minimum 50 innings, going past Virat Kohli.
Gaikwad reached the mark during Maharashtra’s Vijay Hazare Trophy game against Mumbai. He scored 66 off 52 balls, striking at 126.92, with seven clean boundaries as he looked in complete control.
With that knock, Gaikwad’s List A average has climbed to 57.69. Kohli’s mark stood at 57.67, a number many thought would be tough to beat in Indian one-day cricket.
Gaikwad’s rise in List A cricket has been steady and long. He made his Vijay Hazare Trophy debut back in the 2016–17 season and announced himself with a century against Himachal Pradesh. Since then, he has been one of the most reliable batters in domestic one-day cricket.
Runs have followed him almost every season, whether at the top of the order or while playing the anchor role. His calm approach and ability to score at a healthy pace have made him a standout in the format.
At the international level, Gaikwad made his ODI debut in October 2022. He then spent a long period out of the 50-over setup between December 2023 and November 2025 before forcing his way back with a century against South Africa.
In the current Indian ODI setup, Gaikwad has replaced Shubman Gill and is batting at No. 4 due to Shreyas Iyer’s absence. His recent form has strengthened his case to remain in the mix even when the first-choice players return.
The new record also puts Gaikwad in elite global company. Only Michael Bevan with an average of 57.86 and Sam Hain at 57.76 are above him on the all-time List A charts. Cheteshwar Pujara also features in the top five, underlining the quality of the list.
Kohli, however, could reclaim the Indian record soon. He is set to play for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 6, which adds another layer of intrigue to the race.
For now, Gaikwad’s achievement underlines his status as one of India’s finest List A batters. With domestic dominance and a timely return to ODI form, selection calls may only get tougher in the weeks ahead.
