Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad made a stunning comeback in the Duleep Trophy 2025, scoring a solid century on Day 1 of the second semifinal between West Zone and Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground B in Bengaluru. Playing his first competitive game since being ruled out of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to an elbow injury, Gaikwad was in top form, finishing Day 1 with a breathtaking 184 off 206 balls. This was his eighth First-Class century and a clear statement of intent ahead of the upcoming domestic and international games. Also Read | Watch: Ruturaj Gaikwad Teases Kids Supporting RCB, MI Over CSK From Injury Setback to Match-Winning Knock Earlier this year, Gaikwad fractured his elbow during the IPL season, keeping him out of action. Chennai Super Kings named MS Dhoni as stand-in captain, but the five-time champions ended the season at the bottom of the points table. Gaikwad was later picked for India A's tour of England but didn't get any game time. He was also to play for Yorkshire in the County Championship but withdrew from the stint for "personal reasons." Back in action, Gaikwad came in at No. 4 after early wickets, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Harvik Desai getting out cheaply. The 28-year-old was calm from the word go, playing with confidence and precision. He dominated spinners in the post-lunch session, racing from 55 at the second break to his century in 131 balls, reaching the milestone with a crisp cover drive off Harsh Dubey. This timely century could open the door for Gaikwad's Test debut, with a home series against the West Indies next month followed by a series against South Africa. Though yet to play a Test match for India, Gaikwad already has six ODIs, 23 T20Is, and a gold medal as captain at the 2022 Asian Games to his credit. His current form could finally get him a well-deserved place in India's red-ball setup.