Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad recorded India’s first T20I century against Australia during the Guwahati T20I. During that game, he also recorded the highest T20I score by a cricketer against Australia.
Ruturaj Gaikwad: First Indian to score a T20I century vs Australia
It was the third game of the five-match India vs Australia T20I series, where Australia chose to field first. Leading the series by 2-0, India lost the first two wickets in 2.3 overs after scoring 24 runs. While the middle-order batters, the skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma scored 39 runs and 31 not out, respectively, India scored 222/3 in 20 overs, thanks to the opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden T20I century.
The 26-year-old Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad completed his first T20I hundred in 52 balls. With the help of 13 fours and seven sixes, the right-handed batter scored 123 not out in 57 balls.
Here are some key stats of Ruturaj Gaikwad’s fiery century knock
Ruturaj became the first Indian to record a T20I century against Australia. The previous highest score record was 90 not out by Virat Kohli during the 2016 Adelaide T20I.
Ruturaj became the fourth cricketer to record a T20I century against Australia.
Ruturaj’s 123 not out was the highest T20I score against Australia. The previous record was 116 not out by New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum during the 2010 Christchurch T20I.
Ruturaj’s 123 not out was the second-highest T20I score by an Indian batter. The record is 126 not out by Shubman Gill vs New Zealand during the 2023 Ahmedabad T20I.
Ruturaj became the ninth Indian to score a T20I hundred.
Ruturaj’s century was the 15th T20I century by an Indian cricketer.
Despite Australia’s struggle with 134/5, the visitors won the match by five wickets after the centurion Glenn Maxwell successfully finished the game on the final ball of the match with a four. Maxwell scored a heroic 104 not out in 48 balls, as trailing Aussies made the series 2-1 with two games to go.
