Ruturaj Gaikwad surpasses Virat Kohli to set new Indian record in List A cricket

Star Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad has etched his name into the record books by becoming the Indian with the highest batting average in List A cricket (minimum 3,000 runs), surpassing former India captain Virat Kohli.

Gaikwad achieved the milestone during his fluent 66 off 52 balls for Maharashtra against Mumbai in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Jaipur on Saturday.

Record-breaking achievement

With his latest knock, Gaikwad now has 4,904 runs in 97 List A matches at an outstanding average of 57.69. He edged past Kohli, who averages 57.67 after scoring 16,207 runs in 344 matches.

As per ESPNcricinfo, only Michael Bevan (57.86) of Australia and Sam Hain (57.76) of England boast better batting averages than Gaikwad in List A cricket among players with at least 3,000 runs.

Match-winning contribution

Batting first, Maharashtra were cruising at 140/1 when skipper Gaikwad walked in. He played a key role in consolidating the innings, adding a 114-run partnership for the second wicket with Arshin Kulkarni, who went on to score a century.

After settling in, Gaikwad shifted gears effortlessly, striking seven boundaries in his brisk half-century. His knock powered Maharashtra to a formidable 366/4.

Stellar Vijay Hazare Trophy form

The 66 marked Gaikwad’s second consecutive 50-plus score in the tournament, following his 124-run knock against Uttarakhand. It was also his 19th half-century in List A cricket, underlining his exceptional consistency.

Gaikwad’s record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is particularly impressive:

• 3,180 runs at an average of 63.60

• 14 centuries (second-most in tournament history)

• 9 half-centuries

Why this matters

Gaikwad’s feat highlights his remarkable consistency in the 50-over format and further strengthens his credentials as one of India’s most reliable limited-overs batters. Surpassing a benchmark set by Virat Kohli places him in elite global company and reinforces his growing stature in Indian cricket.