Ruturaj Gaikwad delivered an outstanding performance for West Zone, scoring 184 runs in the Duleep Trophy semifinal held in Bengaluru. West Zone faced an early setback, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harvik Desai quickly. Gaikwad then partnered with Aarya Desai to stabilize the innings, adding 90 runs together. He reached his half-century in 85 balls and brought up his century in 131 balls, showcasing his skill against the spinners with 15 boundaries. Despite losing more wickets—Aarya (39), Shreyas Iyer (25), Shams Mulani (18)—Gaikwad remained resilient. He formed a significant 148-run partnership with Tanush Kotian (65) and reached 150 runs, effectively controlling the match.
In an attempt for a risky shot as he approached his double century, he was stumped, but his innings positioned West Zone strongly for the following day.