SA vs IND: Ruturaj Gaikwad left surprised as team bus’ door unexpectedly closes on him

In an unexpected turn of events, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Team India’s opening batter, found himself in a rather amusing situation before the first ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

As Gaikwad approached the team bus, ready to board, the bus driver, perhaps caught in a moment of distraction, closed the door right in front of him, leaving the batter momentarily confused. The incident, captured in the video, quickly made rounds on social media, showcasing Gaikwad’s awkward attempt to figure out an alternate entry.

In the footage, the bus driver can be seen gesturing with his hand after closing the door, leaving Gaikwad searching for a solution with a somewhat confused expression. The incident adds to the recent series of eventful bus rides for Team India, with another clip surfacing earlier featuring T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav seemingly reprimanding Arshdeep Singh inside the bus.

Despite the light-hearted nature of these incidents, the team’s focus quickly shifted to on-field matters. Team India’s bowlers put on an outstanding performance, limiting the hosts to a mere 116 on a used pitch. This was largely due to a remarkable five-wicket haul by Arshdeep Singh, well-supported by Avesh Khan, who also claimed four wickets. Chasing the target of 117, debutant batter Sai Sudharsan and experienced player Shreyas Iyer, both notched fifties, scoring 55 and 52 respectively. Their contributions guided India to a comfortable eight-wicket victory.

Ruturaj failed to impress in the first ODI

However, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s innings fell short of expectations as he was dismissed for just five runs by Wiaan Mulder in the fourth over of the run chase. Gaikwad, who missed the entire T20I series due to illness, will be eager to bounce back in the upcoming matches.

Before the South Africa tour, Gaikwad had showcased his prowess as the leading run-scorer in the 4-1 T20I series victory over Australia at home. With Team India now holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, all eyes will be on Gaikwad’s performance in the second ODI scheduled for Tuesday, December 19.