An exciting clash of Elite Group C Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 On January 8, 2026, Dr. Jaipur. Maharashtra elected to bat against Goa first at the Soni Stadium. Travel to GiikwaThe Maharashtra captain closed the innings with a magnificent unbeaten 134 off 131 balls that featured eight fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 102.29. Fans went into a frenzy online, hailing his tattoo as a masterclass amid early meltdowns.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s record-breaking hundred against Goa in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Gaikwad single-handedly turned the tide around to an unbeaten 134 that took Maharashtra to 249/7 in 50 overs. Faces 2/3 after quick dismissal Prithvi Shaw (1), Kulkarni throne (0) and Ankit Bawne (0), Gaikwad boldly rebuilt, reached his century in style. His aggressive shots, including lofted covers and powerful pulls, silenced Goa’s bowlers. Vasuki Koushik (3/38), who struck early
This innings marked Gaikwad’s latest Vijay Hazare gem, building on a storied home form in which he has combined the most tons in the tournament, including a double century earlier. Social media erupted with “GOAT” chants as clips of his sixes went viral, highlighting his evolution from IPL star to List A powerhouse. Maharashtra’s struggle owed everything to their composure under pressure
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Here’s how the fans reacted:
🚨 RUTURAJ GAIKWAD SCORES 134* (131) IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY. 🚨
– Maharashtra were 52/6 at one stage, then the captain stepped up.
Rutu will not be ignored by the electorate even though he has scored such important blows. 💔 pic.twitter.com/Wj2RZto3U3
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 8, 2026
HARD FOLLOWING BULLY – RUTURAJ GAIKWAD 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/6ceQKnEZOg
– Jones. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 8, 2026
If anyone asks who Ruturaj Gaikwad is, show them this picture. pic.twitter.com/D2kvbynwjH
— Sergio (@SergioCSKK) January 8, 2026
Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a masterclass against Goa and scored an unbeaten 134 off just 131 balls ✨#RuturajGaikwad #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/EAdcTfEzSE
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 8, 2026
Meet Ruturaj Gaikwad:
– Can bat as an opener
– He can say no. 4
– It can be an anchor
– Can speed up when needed
– Bats over death like Rohit Sharma
– He always performs on difficult pitches
– It is not violence on the straight road pic.twitter.com/b3MbAQyzt1— Yash MSdian ™️ 🦁 (@itzyash07) January 8, 2026
🚨 Fastest List A runs to reach 5K:-
95* innings – Ruturaj Gaikwad.
97 – Babar Azam.
101 – Hasim Amla.
114 – Sir Viv Richards.
114 – Virat Kohli.
114 – Shai Umid.
115 – David Warner.Prince of World Cricket – Ruturaj. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2ZQmxrqAxQ
— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) January 8, 2026
No player even scored 10 runs in the first 6 and Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 134 runs, Ruturaj Gaikwad made List A cricket!
Now averaging over 57 at a strike rate of 100+, he has proven himself as both a key and middle-order batsman.
Must be… pic.twitter.com/Mxy2WdP5qy
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) January 8, 2026
100 for Ruturaj Gaikwad.106* off 124 balls at a strike rate of 85 when the whole team scored just 208 runs. He came in at 5 and put up two good partnerships with No. 8 and No. 9 to put a decent score on the board. Difficult situation bully. pic.twitter.com/2amcdwCX7u
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) January 8, 2026
Ruturaj Gaikwad in VHT 2025-26 (so far):
7 innings
335* runs
67* average
106 Strike rateThe undisputed king of the list is cricket. ❤️pic.twitter.com/Nhk5JZigJp
— Srijan (@LegendDhonii) January 8, 2026
🚨 Ruturaj became the fastest player to reach the 5K List A Run beating the likes of Kohli, Sir Viv Richards, Babar, Amla, Hope, Warner. 🔥
It is India’s loss that this man is not a regular in the National team. 💔 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/jjtIkEuUVo
— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) January 8, 2026
Maharashtra posts a fighting total in the first innings
Maharashtra, despite collapsing early on, put together a fighting 249/7 as Gaikwad’s unbeaten knock of 134 held them together, finding solid support. Vicki Ostwal‘s patient threw 53, 82 balls. Rajvardhan Hangargekar added a sharp finish, smashing 32* off just 19 deliveries to raise the pace to 4.98. The defining alliance was a 96-run stand for the seventh wicket, before Ostwal departed late in the 42nd over at 158/7.
The innings started disastrously, with wickets falling at 1-2, 2-2 and 3-2, followed by losses on 16, 25 and 52. Maharashtra also benefited from seven extras, including two no-balls and five wides. Worked hard with Goa’s attack Arjun Tendulkar, Deepraj Gaonkar, Darshan Example and Lalit Yadav shared the damage but Gaikwad remained unmoved. At the break, Goa faced a tough chase.
