It feels like we’ve been having this conversation about Ruturaj Gaikwad for ages. The stylish opener from Pune has been knocking on the Indian team’s door for over three years now, but the door has only opened slightly, and often, just for a moment. However, with the latest squad announcement for the ODI series against South Africa, the door hasn’t just opened, but it’s been kicked wide open.

Following a neck injury to regular captain Shubman Gill, Gaikwad has been drafted into the main squad. This call-up isn’t just luck; it is a reward for sheer dominance. In the recently concluded unofficial ODI series between India A and South Africa A, Ruturaj was in a league of his own. Leading from the front, he was named the Player of the Series, smashing a total of 210 runs in just three matches. His average in the series was 105, with a strike rate of 86.78.

His classy century, 117, in the first game and a match-winning, unbeaten 68 in the second showed exactly why he is rated so highly. He didn’t just score runs, he looked incredibly comfortable, guiding India A to a 2-1 series victory. Despite this talent, Ruturaj’s international career has been a bit stop-start. Since making his debut, he has been in and out of the side, often warming the bench while others get the nod.

In the IPL, he is a superstar and a consistent run-machine for the Chennai Super Kings. In domestic cricket, he scores hundreds for fun. Yet, in the Indian jersey, he hasn’t consistently converted that potential into big scores, barring a few flashes of brilliance like his stunning T20I century against Australia.

The reality of Indian cricket today is that the top order is overcrowded. With heavyweights like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shubman Gill usually locking down the opening slots, opportunities are rare.

For Ruturaj, this series is not just another tour; it is an audition. If he gets a game in the playing XI, he cannot afford to just be “good.” He needs to be exceptional. He has the technique, the temperament, and now, the form. Hopefully, this South Africa tour will be the moment Ruturaj Gaikwad transforms from a talented backup into a regular for India.