Srikkanth Criticizes BCCI Over Ruturaj Gaikwad's Omission from T20I and Test Squads
Earlier reports suggested that Gaikwad could be considered a backup opener for the Australia Test series, particularly with Rohit Sharma potentially missing one of the early matches due to personal commitments. However, Gaikwad's domestic stats, including 472 runs this season at an average of 47.2, were seemingly not enough for selection.
India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth expressed his frustration over the BCCI’s decision to exclude Ruturaj Gaikwad from both India’s T20I series against South Africa and the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. Despite Gaikwad's recent performances, including impressive runs in the domestic season, he was not included in the two squads. The selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, has left Srikkanth questioning their strategy, especially given Gaikwad's consistent form and contributions.
Srikkanth's Perspective on Gaikwad's Exclusion
On his YouTube channel, Srikkanth shared his confusion over the decision, sympathizing with Gaikwad. He commented, “I don't understand it at all. If Ruturaj scores a century, shouldn't he be in the T20I squad? He scored two first-class centuries and still didn't get a chance.” Srikkanth questioned where else Gaikwad would have to prove himself to earn a spot on the national team.
Over the past year, Gaikwad has narrowly missed multiple international appearances. Although he was a reserve for the World Test Championship final in 2023, he was eventually replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal due to personal commitments. Later, while he was included in the West Indies tour squad, he didn’t play. He then led India to a gold medal in the Asian Games and was named to the December tour of South Africa, only to be replaced by Abhimanyu Easwaran following an injury.
Should Gaikwad Have Been Selected Over Easwaran?
Srikkanth clarified that he wasn't questioning Easwaran's selection, given his exceptional form, which includes four consecutive centuries in domestic matches. However, Srikkanth urged the selectors to outline their plans for Gaikwad, adding that repeatedly placing him in squads like Rest of India or India A leaves the young player’s future uncertain.
“Abhimanyu Easwaran's performance has been brilliant. I'm not questioning that,” Srikkanth stated. “But what are you doing with Ruturaj? Just look at the mindset of that kid. He’s performing consistently, yet when it comes to international cricket, he’s left behind.”
Background and Implications
Gaikwad has been seen as a future prospect for India's opening order and has shown his talent across domestic and international assignments. Many consider his frequent inclusion in India A or Rest of India squads a missed opportunity, especially given his potential to contribute to India’s top-order stability. The upcoming India A tour of Australia could further highlight Gaikwad's capabilities, but his exclusion from the main squads continues to spark debate among former players and fans alike.
