IND vs SA ODI Series: Why Gaikwad is ahead of Jaiswal in race to partner Rohit as India's opener

Head coach Gautam Gambhir has multiple big decisions to take, including who should open with Rohit Sharma – Yashasvi Jaiswal or Ruturaj Gaikwad – as India get ready for the three-match ODI series against South Africa from 30 November in Ranchi.

The focus in ODIs is on fine-tuning the squad for the World Cup, which is still two years away in 2027, but after the 2-0 Test series defeat to South Africa, Gambhir cannot afford to take the one-dayers lightly.

But due to the absence of injured skipper Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who is still recovering from the spleen injury he suffered in Australia, Gambhir would be forced to make a few changes to the playing XI in the ODIs.

Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Ruturaj Gaikwad

Rishabh Pant, who has returned to the ODIs for the first time since 2024, could come in for Iyer, but the real question is who will open for India alongside Rohit Sharma – Yashasvi Jaiswal or Ruturaj Gaikwad?

Ruturaj Gaikwad has played six ODIs so far, scoring 115 runs at an average of 19.16. His last ODI was against South Africa at Gqeberha in December 2023.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal made his ODI debut earlier this year against England at Nagpur, scoring 15 runs.

There’s little to choose between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal as far as their ODI records are concerned. Also, they are only at the start of their ODI careers. Both batters are far better than what the numbers suggest.

But what gives Yashasvi Jaiswal an edge over Ruturaj Gaikwad is that he is a left-handed batter. With right-handed Rohit and Virat Kohli in the top three, India would ideally want a left-hander as the second opener.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was also a part of the ODI squad in Australia, which means he is ahead of Gaikwad in the race to fill the opening spot left empty by injury to Gill. But he has not been in great form, scoring just one fifty in four innings against South Africa in the Tests.

Ruturaj Gaikwad favourite to partner Rohit Sharma

Ruturaj Gaikwad, meanwhile, is in top form, scoring a hundred and fifty against South Africa A in one-day matches at Rajkot earlier this month. He also made a massive 184 in the Duleep Trophy in September and scored a century and fifty for Maharashtra in October in the Ranji Trophy.

And while the Team India management would prefer a left-right opening combination with Gill being the first-choice partner for Rohit, it’s amply clear that they don’t mind two right-handed openers as well.

Considering the recent good form of Ruturaj Gaikwad, there’s a high chance he will walk out as India’s opener along with Rohit in Ranchi, unless Gambhir opts for a left-right opening combination.