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Xtra Time Web Desk: Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is going through the form of his life. The 24-year-old batter on Saturday scored his third consecutive hundred in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021. Ruturaj scored 124 from 129 balls, smashing 9 boundaries and 3 sixes as Maharashtra posted 291/8 in 50 overs against Kerala. He has so far scored an unbelievable 414 runs from three matches in the ongoing 50 over premier domestic tournament.

Gaikwad had scores of 136 (112) against Madhya Pradesh and 154 not out (143) versus Chhattisgarh in previous two matches.

There is no denying that the prolific batter is passing through a golden phase of his career. The opening batsman from 'Pargaon Mehmane' village in Saswad area of Pune district, has come a long way. From being bought by Chennai Super Kings in the 2019 IPL player auction for Rs 20 lakh to be retained by the same franchise by the same franchise for a whopping Rs 6 crore speaks for itself the rise in stature of Ruturaj.

Ruturaj did not have the greatest of starts to his IPL career until he blossomed towards the end of the 2019-20 season. He scored his maiden IPL hundred (101*) against Rajasthan Royals on October 2,2021. The following season he played a crucial role in helping CSK lift the title, beating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final played at the Dubai International Stadium.

Heent on to win the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs (635) in the 2021 tournament and was also awarded the Emerging Player of the Year award

Hailing from an educated family (father Dashrath Gaikwad,was a defence research development officer while mother Sawita Gaikwad is a teacher in a municipality school) Ruturaj had to make a choice between academics and cricket.  His parents never insisted him to study more and play less cricket. He joined Vengsarkar Cricket Academy in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune at the age of 13 years.

Since making his first-class debut for Maharashtra in 2016-17 Ranji season, Ruturaj has represented India A, India B, India Blue, Maharashtra, Chennai Super Kings and India Under 23. A string of good performances finally opened the doors for the national team as he made his debut for India in T20I series against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021. In his two T20I matches for India, Ruturaj scored only 35 runs with a highest score of 21 runs.

With the form Ruturaj is going through, it goes to be seen if the selectors do justice to his talent by drafting him for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. As they say catch them young, Ruturaj Gaikwad does have the potentiality to make it big in Indian cricket.