Shikhar or Ruturaj? Battle For ODI Spot

As per the reports, opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder, Venkatesh Iyer are being viewed for the forthcoming One Day Internationals (ODI) series in South Africa as there has been a huge drop in the form of senior opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan.

The two names who are in the thick of a star Vijay Hazare Trophy season are Gaikwad and Iyer, who have directly struck three and two hundred serially in the trophy so far.

Shikhar Dhawan’s miserable run of state in the Vijay Hazare Trophy would uphold the selectors concerned but young talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer appears to have all but secured their keys for the approaching away South Africa tour for three-match ODI series against in January. This young duo is delivering back-to-back tons in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy after a fortunate IPL season.

It is understandable that once the air is clear that Iyer, who is a professional opener will see it hard to suit in at the top order insight of KL Rahul and Rohit, he will have to wing it and maybe bat at no. five or six as a fixed finisher. Iyer has carried the position like a fish to the water as he walked out to bat at number four against Kerala to knock 112 off 84 balls and then folded the sleeve added 71 runs off 49 balls batting at number five.

On the other hand, Dhawan’s fights have been unmarked with runs of 0, 12, 14, 18 and he hasn’t ever glimpsed in contact in any of the games.

But if one darts at the sensation of how Rahul Dravid is holding senior players, just like Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma are earning a chance for the South Africa Tests, Dhawan may get the green signal in the ODIs too.