NEW DELHI: India’s second ODI towards South Africa in Raipur become a memorable afternoon for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who lastly transformed his promise right into a commanding maiden worldwide century. Strolling in after India misplaced each openers early, Gaikwad anchored the innings with outstanding poise, crafting an excellent 105 off 83 balls that lifted the hosts to a powerful place.Gaikwad had a shaky begin, significantly towards the steep bounce generated by Marco Jansen. The tall left-arm fast troubled him with motion and awkward lengths through the preliminary section, forcing the right-hander right into a cautious method.

However as soon as he noticed off the early menace, Gaikwad shifted gears seamlessly. His half-century arrived off 52 deliveries. It was regular, calculated, and composed. What adopted was pure acceleration.The landmark second got here within the thirty fourth over. Corbin Bosch dug in a brief ball, and Gaikwad, fast on the pull, despatched it large of mid-on. Because the ball raced to the fence, he eliminated his helmet, raised his bat, and was met with a heat embrace from Virat Kohli on the different finish. It was an aesthetic solution to deliver up a 77-ball maiden ODI hundred on a floor that originally demanded utility.His innings was embellished with 12 crisp fours and two cleanly struck sixes. The spotlight, nevertheless, was his 195-run partnership with Kohli, who himself performed fluently and moved into the nineties by the point Gaikwad departed. Collectively, they rescued India from 62 for two and positioned them firmly in management at 257 for 3 within the thirty sixth over.Gaikwad ultimately fell to Jansen, trying to push the scoring price, however by then his work was already completed. His knock not solely gave India an imposing platform but in addition strengthened his case as a long-term ODI contender.