Shreyas Iyer vs Ruturaj Gaikwad: Batters Vie For Spot In India's Test XI With Ranji Trophy Hundreds

If Saturday, October 19 was about Shreyas Iyer scoring a comeback century for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, all the attention was stolen 24 hours later by Maharashtra skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was unbeaten on 114 at lunch on Day 3 of the encounter against Mumbai. The hundreds from two of India's most promising batters in the same match have drawn quite some eyeballs.

Iyer, battling a recurring back injury for which he underwent surgery in 2023, scored his first hundred in red-ball cricket since his Test debut three years ago during the Ranji Trophy second-round game against Maharashtra.

Earlier, having opted to bat first, Maharashtra folded for a paltry 126, with Mohit Avasthi and Shams Mulani picking three wickets apiece. In reply, Mumbai posted a whopping 441, riding on centuries from Iyer and Ayush Mhatre, who scored a brilliant 176.

While it looked like Mumbai have batted Maharashtra out of the game, especially after opener Siddhesh Veer departed on just the second ball of the innings, Gaikwad and Sachin Dhas' 222-run partnership for the second wicket took their team to a comfortable position.

Gaikwad then added 51 more runs with Ankit Bawne for the third wicket before getting dismissed for 145. Maharashtra were bowled out for 388 with Avasthi, Mulani and Tanush Kotian picking three wickets apiece.

Mumbai were ultimately provided a target of 74 and by the end of Day 3, they were at 13/0, with Prithvi Shaw and Mhatre at the crease.

While Iyer has already represented India in 14 Tests while scoring 811 runs in them, Gaikwad has been knocking on the selectors' door for a while, but luck hasn't favoured him yet. The former scored a hundred on his Test debut and promised a lot, before fading away. Iyer played his last Test against England in February but had to sit out after that due to a recurring back injury.

Iyer didn't represent Mumbai for a while and eventually lost his central contract. He returned for the semifinals and finals of the last Ranji Trophy, which Mumbai won.

On the other hand, Gaikwad, who has played 34 first-class matches, has scored 2368 runs at an average of 43 with six hundreds to his name before Sunday. But he hasn't earned the coveted Test call-up yet.

While BCCI is yet to announce the team, one among Gaikwad or Abhimanyu Easwaran is expected to lead the side. Notably, among all the domestic batters who are racking up runs, the latter is a frontrunner for a place in the senior Indian team, with four hundreds in his last six first-class innings.

Unfortunately, no reports are indicating that Iyer might be part of this series, which means he will have to continue the grind in the Ranji Trophy.

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