Incident Overview
Ruturaj Gaikwad remains on the sidelines once again, longing for an opportunity. The young batter scored an impressive century against South Africa in the recent series, a feat that many believed would bolster his case. However, when India revealed their squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand on Saturday, Ruturaj’s name was conspicuously absent.
The selectors opted for Rishabh Pant instead. Regarded by many as a comprehensive batter, Ruturaj has displayed consistency, solid technique, and strong temperament. Despite these attributes, he failed to secure a spot in the team, which is not the first time this has occurred.
Selection Controversy
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin addressed this decision on his YouTube channel, echoing sentiments that many fans share. “Could Gaikwad have been included in the squad? I believe that was a genuine possibility,” he remarked.
Ashwin elaborated that the selectors faced a challenging decision, having to choose between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rishabh Pant. Pant received the nod primarily because he bats left-handed.
Ashwin also mentioned that Shreyas Iyer’s return was never in question, citing it as “his rightful place.” Nonetheless, he questioned the rationale behind selecting a second specialist wicketkeeper when a dependable batter like Ruturaj was available.
“Between a secondary wicketkeeper and a batter, a keeper can be sourced from elsewhere as cover,” Ashwin added.
Ruturaj’s Batting Versatility and Potential
Ashwin commended Ruturaj’s batting prowess, suggesting that he should not be viewed solely as an opener. In Ashwin’s opinion, Ruturaj is capable of batting in the middle order as well.
“Batting at four or five, I’m putting my neck on the line, his skill against spin, agility between the wickets, and capacity to finish an innings are exceptional,” Ashwin stated.
Concerns About Mindset and Future Prospects
Despite his praise, Ashwin expressed concern about Ruturaj’s current situation. “My primary worry is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s mindset,” he stated.
He highlighted that though Ruturaj’s T20 statistics are impressive, his international opportunities have been limited.
“At present, it’s a straightforward choice between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rishabh Pant, with Pant benefiting from being a left-hander,” Ashwin observed.
The path ahead is challenging, with established stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma continuing to occupy top-order positions.
“Ruturaj’s extended run in ODIs will likely come only after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from the format,” Ashwin added.
India’s Squad for New Zealand ODIs
The squad announced features Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer* (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. *Subject to fitness clearance.