'It's not that we have decided to play reckless cricket,' Gaikwad on his shilly-shally form

Indian opener Ruturaj Gaikwad spoke about team India's aggressive mindset and strengths ahead of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Rajkot.

Talking with the broadcasters ahead of the fourth T20I, Gaikwad reflected on India's aggressive mindset and the approach which has helped the team.

“The aggressive mindset that we as a team and management have tried to apply, there are not many changes needed for it. As a group, we back our strengths. If the ball is in your strong area, then you go for it, even if it is ball one, and you keep continuing from there. At the same time. It is not like we have decided to play reckless cricket or play any shot to any delivery. Being positive is our strength and we back it," said Ruturaj Gaikwad before the start of the fourth T20I.

The Indian opener was asked if he's playing more off the backfoot to which he replied that there are some areas that he's working hard to improve on, but his thought process remains the same.

“I won’t call it a change, but when you move to a higher level like IPL or international cricket, you have to improve in certain areas. So I am working hard on those areas, but it is not like my thought-process has changed or I am playing more off the back foot.”

The 25-year-old top-order batter got the start in the first T20I against South Africa in Delhi but failed to convert it into something substantial as he was dismissed for a 15-ball 23. In the second T20I, he lasted to face just four deliveries and went dismissed for a mere one run. But the Maharashtra-based cricketer showed his class by smoking his first-ever T20I fifty in the third game, which included five consecutive boundaries of one over. Reflecting on that innings, Ruturaj said:

“I think the wicket was good. The ball wasn’t swinging or seaming. We wanted to give the team a good start in the first 2-3 overs and then capitalize on it. The progression of that innings was really good.”

Gaikwad is best recognized for his brilliant performance for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL’s 2021 season when he became the first uncapped player to earn the Orange Cap as the team won its fourth title. He has only played seven T20Is in his international career, but in 21 First-Class matches, he has scored 1349 runs at an average of 38.54. Gaikwad would hope to continue his good run in the ongoing series as he has been struggling for runs for some time now.