Ruturaj Gaikwad will be making waves in IPL 2025 by descending to No. 3 in the order, a tactical move that would give a new lease of life to his international career. India’s opening positions already having been filled with blue-chip players, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter is all set to redefine himself as a middle-order anchor of dependability.
Year by year, Gaikwad has flourished as an opener, consistently performing for CSK. But with Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rohit Sharma dominating the Indian top order, chances at the international level have been scarce. A good IPL season at No. 3 could make Gaikwad a versatile candidate for India, particularly keeping in mind the T20 World Cup and upcoming ODI cycles.
CSK’s move to push Gaikwad down the order is also in sync with their aggressive style of batting, making sure that they have a strong presence after the powerplay. His capacity to control an innings, identify gaps, and drive at the appropriate moment can turn him into a game-changer at No. 3, similar to Suresh Raina in CSK’s golden period.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on Gaikwad to observe whether this change pays off and helps him make a strong case for an India comeback.
