Cricket enthusiasts are gearing up for another thrilling encounter as India and Australia prepare to face off in a five-match T20 International series. Following a captivating ODI series, the shortest format promises high-octane action, with the series set to commence on October 29th. While new records are expected to be forged and old ones potentially broken, an intriguing statistic highlights that the only Indian batsman to have scored a T20I century against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad, is currently out of the national team. This absence sparks considerable discussion among fans and experts alike: will the upcoming? Series see a new Indian batter step up to achieve this rare milestone?
The Challenge of a T20I Century
Scoring a century in T20 International cricket is a formidable task. With only 20 overs per side, batsmen are under constant pressure to accelerate the scoring rate, attempting big shots almost every ball. This high-risk, high-reward approach makes it incredibly difficult to build a substantial individual score that culminates in a century, while historically, in T20I matches between India and Australia, only five centuries have been recorded in total. A significant majority of these centuries have come from Australian batsmen, with India managing just one. This statistic underscores the competitive nature of these contests and the dominance of bowlers in this format.
Ruturaj Gaikwad's Historic Feat
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the talented Indian opening batsman, holds the unique distinction of. Being the only Indian cricketer to have slammed a T20I century against Australia. He achieved this remarkable feat in 2023 during a match played in Guwahati, while in that memorable innings, Gaikwad played an explosive knock, remaining unbeaten on 123 runs off just 57 balls. His innings was a masterclass of aggressive batting, featuring 13 fours and 7 towering sixes. This century stands as a significant milestone in Indian cricket history, particularly in the T20 format against a strong Australian side, as no other Indian batter has managed to replicate this achievement before or since. His performance is etched in golden letters in the annals of Indian cricket.
Australia's Batting Dominance in Centuries
In contrast, Australian batsmen have displayed a greater propensity for scoring T20I centuries against India. Three Australian players have achieved this milestone, with Glenn Maxwell notably doing it twice. Shane Watson was the first, smashing an unbeaten 124 runs against India in Sydney back in 2016. Glenn Maxwell, known for his destructive hitting, registered T20 centuries against India in both 2019 and 2023, showcasing his match-winning capabilities, while besides these stalwarts, Josh Inglis also joined the elite club with a blistering 110-run century against India in 2023. These performances highlight the aggressive and dominant approach of Australian batters against the Indian bowling attack.
Gaikwad's Current Status: Out of Favor
Despite his historic century against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad is currently not part of the Indian national team across any format. He's neither in the Test squad nor the ODI squad, and his prospects of returning to the T20I team appear distant. Gaikwad made his T20I debut for India in 2021, and his last appearance in this format was in 2024. Since then, he has not been given an opportunity to represent the national side, much to the disappointment of his fans. The upcoming series presents an opportunity for other Indian batsmen to step up and potentially add their names to the exclusive list of T20I centurions against Australia, or Gaikwad's unique record will remain unchallenged for now.
