Suryakumar Yadav Explains Ruturaj Gaikwad’s Absence from India’s T20I Squad Against South Africa
There are a lot of players who have been performing well even before him, so there is a routine or process that the management has come up with, so it is important to follow that,” Suryakumar explained.
Ahead of India’s T20I series opener against South Africa, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed questions from the media, including one on the absence of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) captain, Ruturaj Gaikwad, from the squad. Despite Gaikwad’s strong performances across all formats in domestic cricket, he has not secured a consistent spot in India’s national T20I team.
Suryakumar responded by highlighting the depth of talent in Indian cricket and explained that the team’s management has a selection process that they are committed to following. “Rutu [Ruturaj] is a fantastic player. He has been performing consistently across all formats, wherever he plays. There are a lot of players who have been performing well even before him, so there is a routine or process that the management has come up with, so it is important to follow that,” Suryakumar explained.
In a reassuring tone, he added, “He is young and is doing well. I feel, uska bhi number aayega. Uska bhi time aayega. (His time will also come).” Gaikwad’s recent form has been noteworthy; he scored 133 runs in a T20I series against Zimbabwe, averaging 66.50 and striking at 158.33. Additionally, he has held multiple leadership roles, captaining India C in the Duleep Trophy, leading the Rest of India team in the Irani Cup, and currently captaining the India A team on their Australia tour.
Though Gaikwad remains on the sidelines for national T20I selection, his performance in the domestic circuit and leadership responsibilities show that he remains a promising prospect for future opportunities with India’s senior team.
