Ruturaj Gaikwad, renowned as one of the most consistent batters in Indian domestic cricket, has been appointed as the captain of Maharashtra for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. Gaikwad takes over from Kedar Jadhav, who recently retired from all forms of cricket. Known for his leadership, Ruturaj Gaikwad has previously captained India in T20Is, and his promotion to full-time captain is a significant move for the team.
The Maharashtra selectors have announced a 28-member squad featuring a blend of young talent and experienced players. Promising names like Arshin Kulkarni and Vicky Ostwal are included, alongside IPL stars such as Rahul Tripathi and Mukesh Choudhary. This diverse squad aims to improve upon last season’s performance. Maharashtra won only one of seven games, finishing seventh in the Elite Group A.
The new season kicks off on October 11, 2024, with Maharashtra facing Jammu and Kashmir in their opening match.
Regarding Ruturaj Gaikwad’s recent international career, he performed well in T20Is against Zimbabwe. Despite this, he was not selected for India’s ODI and T20I squads for the Sri Lanka series. His omission has sparked criticism, given his consistent performances. Gaikwad’s response to this setback will be closely watched as he leads Maharashtra in the upcoming domestic season.
