Ruturaj Gaikwad achieved a significant personal milestone, scoring his first One Day International century in Raipur. His brilliant 105 off 83 deliveries, including 12 fours and 2 sixes, helped India post a commanding 358 runs. However, this exceptional batting performance was overshadowed by South Africa’s remarkable chase, which saw them successfully hunt down the target to level the series. This marks another instance where Gaikwad’s century has not translated into a victory for his team. The unusual pattern, often referred to as a ‘century jinx,’ has persisted across different formats of the game. This includes his maiden T20I century against Australia, where his unbeaten 123 was also in a losing effort. The jinx has also followed him into the Indian Premier League with the Chennai Super Kings, where both of his IPL centuries have also resulted in defeats. Despite the team’s loss, Gaikwad’s individual performance highlights his potential and his determination to overcome this statistical anomaly.
