Irfan Pathan praises management for sticking with Ruturaj Gaikwad in 2nd ODI against South Africa

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has given credit to the team’s think tank for backing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the second ODI against South Africa. Gaikwad was dismissed after scoring only eight runs in the opening ODI at Ranchi.

However, Gaikwad was once again backed in the team’s playing XI. He was finally able to grab his opportunity with both hands in the second game at Raipur, scoring a fine knock of 105 runs off just 83 balls, which was his maiden ODI century. The flamboyant batter scored a dozen fours and two sixes in his impressive innings while batting at number four, which is not his natural batting position.

Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube Channel, “Nothing happens in one match and here, the management deserve credit. He showed what he can do and even his running between the wickets was excellent. With Tilak Varma and Rishabh Pant in the reserves, Ruturaj Gaikwad ensured with his century that questions about playing him at No. 4 won’t be asked for a while. It will be interesting to see going forward if his number will be at the top or No. 4.”

“By delivering at No. 4, Ruturaj Gaikwad has told the selectors and the management that even if you bat me at an unfamiliar number, I’ll produce. But like I said for the fast bowlers, if India had dropped Ruturaj Gaikwad after his failure in the first ODI, would he have scored a century? No. That’s why it’s important to persist. Even before the match, I said Ruturaj Gaikwad must play all three matches.”

On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna had an expensive outing in the second game. Krishna returned with expensive figures of 2-85 in 8.2 overs he bowled in the second game.

The lanky pacer accounted for Temba Bavuma and Matthew Breetzke but conceded his runs at a high economy rate of 10.20. The fast bowler from Karnataka conceded 48 runs in 7.2 overs he bowled in the opening ODI at Ranchi and picked up one wicket. Pathan said Krishna needs to bowl better lengths.

“In the previous game, Prasidh Krishna’s lengths had to be better. With his height, he gets the bounce that works perfectly to the South African batters’ favor. When there is no grip from the pitch, length control becomes very important. Even though Prasidh Krishna is tall, he must not leave the yorker. That’s how he got Breetzke’s wicket, so he must keep bowling the yorker every once in a while. The fuller he goes, the better for him,” said Pathan (via the aforementioned source).

The third and final ODI between India and South Africa will be played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, on Saturday.