Harare India batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad knows well that it will be "difficult" and "difficult" to replace the retiring Virat Kohli at the number three spot in T20Is and said he is only concentrating on making valuable contributions with the bat in any position. that the team leadership considers. fit.
The retirement of Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja from the shortest format after the T20 World Cup triumph has opened the doors for upcoming players and Gaikwad is one of those talented batsmen who has the potential to seal the spot. number 3. .
"This is a big issue and I think it is not the right time to think about it. Even comparing yourself to him (Kohli) or trying to take his place is relatively very difficult and very difficult," Gaikwad said on the eve of the conference. . third T20I against Zimbabwe.
"As I said also in the IPL, it's also difficult to fill my best shoes. You definitely want to start your career, you want to start the way you want, you want to play your own game. So that's the priority right now.
"Focus on a game, how you can contribute to the team in whatever position you play and make sure you are on the winning side most of the time."
Gaikwad batted at number 3 for India in the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe, but the Pune-born cricketer said he has no preference and he will bat wherever the team requires.
"No, wherever the team wants, I will bat there. There is no problem. There is not much difference between opening and number 3 because you have to play the new ball. So there is not much difference," he said.
Gaikwad led the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year and said captaincy made him more involved in the game, although it did not make any difference in his batting.
"Actually, to be honest, nothing has changed much. Because my batting has been the same as before. I have to play responsibly and try to finish it on my own," he said.
“It's just that the way you watch the game, I think you are becoming more involved in the game since you have captained the IPL franchise for a long period of time.
"So you tend to be in the game for a longer period of time rather than just staying on the outside boundary and just concentrating on one ball. Like I said, batting hasn't made much of a difference."
Young opener Abhishek Sharma had spoken about how Gaikwad helped him "keep perspective" as he used the hammer and tongs to blast a match-winning 47-ball 100 in the second T20I.
"Actually, the communication is not that of a veteran player," Gaikwad said.
"It comes from a batting partner because obviously with non-strikers you feel something about a particular bowler or particular conditions and you have to have that confidence to go and share with your partner what you feel and what the right options are, what do". in certain situations.
“This is definitely something I have been doing being a part of all the teams, whether it is the state team, the IPL team or also the Indian team…”
The retirement of Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja from the shortest format after the T20 World Cup triumph has opened the doors for upcoming players and Gaikwad is one of those talented batsmen who has the potential to seal the spot. number 3. .
"This is a big issue and I think it is not the right time to think about it. Even comparing yourself to him (Kohli) or trying to take his place is relatively very difficult and very difficult," Gaikwad said on the eve of the conference. . third T20I against Zimbabwe.
"As I said also in the IPL, it's also difficult to fill my best shoes. You definitely want to start your career, you want to start the way you want, you want to play your own game. So that's the priority right now.
"Focus on a game, how you can contribute to the team in whatever position you play and make sure you are on the winning side most of the time."
Gaikwad batted at number 3 for India in the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe, but the Pune-born cricketer said he has no preference and he will bat wherever the team requires.
"No, wherever the team wants, I will bat there. There is no problem. There is not much difference between opening and number 3 because you have to play the new ball. So there is not much difference," he said.
Gaikwad led the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year and said captaincy made him more involved in the game, although it did not make any difference in his batting.
"Actually, to be honest, nothing has changed much. Because my batting has been the same as before. I have to play responsibly and try to finish it on my own," he said.
“It's just that the way you watch the game, I think you are becoming more involved in the game since you have captained the IPL franchise for a long period of time.
"So you tend to be in the game for a longer period of time rather than just staying on the outside boundary and just concentrating on one ball. Like I said, batting hasn't made much of a difference."
Young opener Abhishek Sharma had spoken about how Gaikwad helped him "keep perspective" as he used the hammer and tongs to blast a match-winning 47-ball 100 in the second T20I.
"Actually, the communication is not that of a veteran player," Gaikwad said.
"It comes from a batting partner because obviously with non-strikers you feel something about a particular bowler or particular conditions and you have to have that confidence to go and share with your partner what you feel and what the right options are, what do". in certain situations.
“This is definitely something I have been doing being a part of all the teams, whether it is the state team, the IPL team or also the Indian team…”
