“No one can play spin better than Ruturaj Gaikwad” - Ravi Ashwin wants team management to give longer run to Ruturaj

Former Indian spinner and analyst Ravi Ashwin has heaped praise on the Indian No.4 ODI batter Ruturaj Gaikwad, who brought up his maiden ODI century in the second match of the ongoing three-game series against South Africa, on Wednesday, December 3, in Raipur.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, 'Ash ki Baat', Ashwin stated that Gaikwad needs a longer run in the ODI set-up even after Shreyas Iyer returns to the squad, adding that there are no other players who can bat spin better than Gaikwad. 

"There are some players where the outside noise immediately gets to their neck. Some get the noise that they are very talented and should be given a long rope. But I do not know why, how and where that noise comes from. For Ruturaj, when he performed well, he never got the long run. Sometimes he has also been injured, which is unfortunate,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"But you do not have to look at him with such impatience. Ruturaj has all the possibilities to bat at number four. He can play seamers well. The only way to get him out if the ball swings initially. That will get eliminated if he bats at number four. Spin, no one can play better than him. He is also very quick on his feet and runs very well between the wickets. He has every shot in the book. Beyond this, a player does not need to prove anything else to bat at No. 4,” he added.

"Even if Shreyas Iyer comes back, you can still accommodate Ruturaj. Would you want to push Ruturaj up the order, or even Virat can do that, batting up the order. He has done it in T20s. A player with such a pedigree like Ruturaj must be given a long run," he concluded.

Notably, Gaikwad came out to bat at 62/2 in 9.4 overs. He went on to amass 102 runs in 93 balls with seven fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 109.68 as India posted 358/5 in 50 overs. However, they suffered a four-wicket defeat eventually after South Africa chased down the target in 49.2 overs.

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