Ruturaj Gaikwad's ODI career has seen ups and downs, with a low average in his initial appearances. However, he scored his maiden ODI century (105) against South Africa in late 2025, batting at number four. Despite this performance, Gaikwad was not selected for the subsequent ODI series against New Zealand. This decision reflects the current strength and stability of India's top batting order, which features established players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer.