NEW DELHI: Ruturaj Gaikwad believes that managing a team is a difficult task, but when he leads India in the Asian Games next month, he'll strive to make it look easy like his Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni.
Gaikwad will lead a youthful team in Hangzhou while the senior team is preoccupied with World Cup preparations.
"Leadership role is a very complicated thing to be honest. What Mahi bhai (Dhoni) always says is to take it one game at a time, don't worry about the future.
"Everyone creates hype and whatever it is. I am not the kind of person who tracks social media and hear things about what anyone is saying about me.
1/10:India seal T20I series win in Ireland
PTI
2/10:India beat Ireland
<p>India sealed a T20I series win in Ireland as Ruturaj Gaikwad's 58 and Rinku Singh's explosive debut cameo eased a 33-run victory in Dublin on Sunday. </p>ANI
3/10:Sanju Samson
<p>After the loss of two early wickets, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson put on 71 to build the platform for India's total of 185-5. </p>ANI
4/10:Ruturaj Gaikwad
<p>Ben White bowled Sanju Samson for a 26-ball 40 and Barry McCarthy took his second wicket of the afternoon to dismiss Gaikwad for a 43-ball 58. </p>ANI
5/10:Rinku Singh
<p>Despite losing their two big-hitters, Rinku Singh (38) and Shivam Dube (22 not out) picked up the pace to smash 55 from 28 balls. </p>ANI
6/10:Shivam Dube
<p>Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube upped the strike rate as India plundered 42 runs from the final two overs. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Craig Young
<p>Craig Young caught Rinku Singh off Mark Adair on the penultimate ball of the innings as India finished on 185-5. </p>Getty Images
8/10:Andrew Balbirnie
<p>That gave Ireland a mountain to climb but Andrew Balbirnie did his best to give the home side hope with 72 from 51 balls. </p>ANI
9/10:Prasidh Krishna
<p>However, Balbirnie was left without much support as India captain Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets each. </p>ANI
10/10:Paul Stirling
<p>Captain Paul Stirling fell for a duck and Mark Adair's 23 was Ireland's next highest scorer as they finished on 152-8. </p>ANI"I think this is one of the traits that I have learned at CSK. I am pretty much clear about giving my best in the field, coming back home, chilling with my friends," he told reporters after India's 33-run win over Ireland in the second T20 on Sunday.
The right-hander, who spent the majority of the West Indies tour warming up the bench, is opening in the T20Is against Ireland. After a slow start, he scored 58 off 43 balls to win the game.
"Due to the overnight rain, the wicket was slightly damp and on the slower side. Back of length was difficult to hit on this wicket, even the slower ones and cutters were difficult to hit.
"Being an opener I have the luxury to eat up some balls upfront, 10-15 balls and come back and cover. Batters coming in usually have less overs left so you can't have too many dot balls. Being an opener you get enough time to assess the wicket."
The Ireland series is especially important to him because he rarely gets to play.
"It is very important. It is very different when you play from the first game itself (rather than getting an odd game in a series). You come in with lot of confidence, lot of preparation and the right mindset.
"At the same time there is no space in the main team as there are batters doing really well. It is a mixed feeling. It was a great opportunity and one more game to go."
(With PTI inputs)
