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Aakash Chopra picks Ruturaj Gaikwad among India’s future Test batters
By SMCS - Jan 17, 2025 8:00 am
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Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad among his future Test batters for India as well. However, he also added that he hasn’t figured out Gaikwad’s ideal batting position in the Test. India lost 1-3 to Australia in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 as well.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad played a captain’s knock

In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he added, “Ruturaj Gaikwad is an interesting player because he is extremely technically compact. However, I have been unable to figure out which number batter he is because he doesn’t open when he plays for Maharashtra in red-ball cricket, but was sent at the top of the order for India A, and came down the order as soon as (KL) Rahul came.”

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“So I am unable to understand how he is being used. He is not getting that many opportunities as well. He was the T20 captain and scored runs as well, but was dropped after that. However, when you watch Ruturaj Gaikwad playing, you see glimpses of the longer format being in his veins,” he shared.

Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal

In the same video, Aakash Chopra also picked Devdutt Padikkal among India’s future Test batters.

“After that, I am thinking Devdutt Padikkal. I would say don’t write his obituary so soon because it will be slightly sad. He is a good cricketer. He scored 60-odd runs on his Test debut. Of course, he got out in the Perth match, but when you see him play, you feel he is technically strong. He is not a flash-in-the-pan player. He is not one who will only hit sixes. He plays well in days’ cricket. Some people grow up on a diet of long-form cricket. He is not a two-minute Maggi noddle. He is a proper batter,” Aakash Chopra concluded.