VHT 2025-26: Gaikwad, Padikkal stake claim for New Zealand ODI series with stunning centuries
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal smashed centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy ahead of India's ODI selection for three-match series against New Zealand.
New Delhi: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal smashed centuries for their respective domestic sides in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 31. Both batters are in the race for the middle-order spot in India's ODI squad for New Zealand, which will be announced in the next few days.
The three-match ODI series against the Blackcaps will begin on January 11. Gaikwad scored 124 runs off 113, helping Maharashtra to post a massive total of 331/7 against Uttarakhand in the 50 overs.
The right-handed batter smashed 12 boundaries and three maximums, rescuing his struggling team from a position of 100/4 in 23.3 overs. He walked out to bat with Maharashtra reeling at 46/2 after openers Arshin Kulkrani (13) and Siddhesh Veer (12) were dismissed chealy.
Gaikwad first forged a 50-run crucial partnership with Rahul Tripathi for the fifth wicket. After that, he stitched a 109-run stand for the sixth wicket with Satyajeet Bachhav, who also scored 56.
He recently made a return to the Indian team during the ODI series against South Africa. With Shreyas Iyer ruled out due to injury, Gaikwad made the most of his comeback, smashing his maiden ODI century in the second ODI in Raipur.
Devdutt Padikkal slams third ton in four VHT matches
Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal continued his sensational form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, notching up his third century in four matches. He scored 113 runs off 116 balls against Puducherry at the ADSA Railways Cricket Ground in Ahmedabad.
His latest ton came after earlier efforts of 147, 124 against Jharkhand and Kerala, respectively. His only poor outing came in the third match of the tournament, where he amassed 22 runs off 12 balls. Padikkal has smashed 405 runs in the four Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, emerging as one of the consistent batters in the tournament.
After opting to bat first, Karnataka dominated throughout the innings with Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal forging a 228-run partnership for the opening wicket.
He was removed by Jayant Yadav for 113 runs, smashing 10 boundaries and four maximums. With Shreyas Iyer highly unlikely to play in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, both batters have made their case for selection.
Sarfaraz Khan slams 157 against Goa
Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan smacked a 56-ball hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Goa in Jaipur on Wednesday, December 31. He smashed eight maximums and seven boundaries to complete his third List A hundred.
Batting at number four, Sarfaraz came to bat after the dismissal of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (46) and forged a quick 93-run stand with his brother Musheer Khan, who scored 60 off 66 balls.
He reached the three-figure mark in the 36th over of the innings and was eventually dismissed by Darshan Missal on 157, smashing 14 maximums and nine fours in a 75-ball stay.