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Cricket

'Ye CSK blood he Nehra ji' - Fans react to Ashish Nehra's massive verdict on Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of South Africa tour

Ruturaj smashed an unbeaten 123 off 57 balls in the third match and became the first Indian player to score a hundred in T20Is against Australia.

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Mathew K
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Ashish Nehra & Ruturaj Gaikwad (Source: Twitter)

Ashish Nehra & Ruturaj Gaikwad (Source: Twitter)

Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra heaped praise on Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of the multi-format tour of South Africa. Nehra was impressed with Gaikwad's performance in the ongoing India vs Australia five-match T20I series. The batting "elegance" of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener has prompted the veteran pacer to label him as an all-format player.

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Gaikwad is currently the leading run-scorer with one match remaining in the series. He got out for a duck in the first game quite unluckily but bounced back with a half-century and a century in the following matches. Ruturaj smashed an unbeaten 123 off 57 balls in the third match and became the first Indian player to score a hundred in T20Is against Australia.

It was his first international century and it came at a strike rate of over 200. Gaikwad's sensible innings (32 off 28) was crucial in India posting a total of 174 after being asked to bat first in the fourth match. The Men in Blue went on to win the match by 20 runs and clinched the series in Raipur on Friday. 

Speaking to Jio Cinema, Nehra said Gaikwad brings solidity to India’s batting order in the shortest format and added that the 36-year-old is an all-format player. There's no doubt that Ruturaj Gaikwad is a three-format player for India," Nehra said.

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“Everybody knows what kind of a player he is. When you talk about Yashasvi Jaiswal, his game is completely different compared to Ruturaj Gaikwad's. You need solidity in the T20 format as well and that's what Gaikwad brings to the table. The kind of elegance that Ruturaj Gaikwad shows is unbelievable, amazing and it was a great, great, great knock," he added.

Gaikwad is among 3 players selected in all 3 formats for tour of South Africa

Only three players - Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Mukesh Kumar - have been picked in all 3 formats to represent India in the upcoming tour of South Africa. The Men in Blue will be visiting the African continent for a month starting December 10 which will include three T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests. 

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Gaikwad is yet to make his Test debut and if luck goes his way, we could witness the right-hander receiving his cap in the upcoming tour. The Maharashtra cricketer has played 17 T20Is so far and has amassed 458 runs at a strike rate of 144.47. He also has 106 runs, including a half-century, in four ODIs.  

Here's how fans reacted to Ashish Nehra backing Ruturaj Gaikwad to play all three formats: 

India Ruturaj Gaikwad featured