Gaikwad played a crucial knock of 86 runs against Jammu & Kashmir at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, displaying a fine blend of resilience and aggression. After J&K declared their first innings at a massive 519/7, thanks to a remarkable 255-run knock by Shubham Khajuria, Maharashtra found themselves in a precarious situation at 29/2. Early dismissals of Murtaza Trunkwala and Sachin Dhas left Maharashtra in trouble, but Gaikwad's entry at no.4 brought stability to the innings. Partnering with opener Siddhesh Veer, Gaikwad stitched a vital 175-run stand that helped steady the ship. Veer went on to convert his half-century into a ton, while Gaikwad was dismissed for 86, bowled by Yudhvir Singh after hitting 13 boundaries at a strike rate of 66.15. In his 34th First-Class match, Gaikwad's tally of 2,368 runs at an average of 42-plus reflects his consistent performance. His knock against J&K marked his 13th fifty in FC cricket, and he also boasts six centuries to his name. Gaikwad's solid form continued from the 2024 Duleep Trophy, where he contributed valuable scores of 46, 58, and 62 for India C. This phase of the season holds significant importance for Gaikwad, as reports suggest that he could be considered as a backup batter for the Australia Tests. His chances may further increase due to speculations that Rohit Sharma might be rested for the first Test. Another top contender for the squad is Abhimanyu Easwaran, who impressed with a century for Rest of India in the recently concluded Irani Cup. Gaikwad's last outing for India came during their Zimbabwe tour, where he showcased glimpses of his talent. With his current form, he could be on the verge of making a strong case for his long-awaited Test debut in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.