Ruturaj Gaikwad's questionable snub (Source: @itzyash07/x.com)
Destiny doesn’t appear out of nowhere; it finds those with the perfect talent at the perfect time. The cricket world might see some miraculous rise of a young talent who achieved everything he wished for, but some stories have seen a different part of this, too.
The game of cricket showcased some of the stories of some unreal heroes, but some of the promising talent were left climbing the never-ending ladder of grabbing an opportunity. Among them, Maharashtra’s Ruturaj Gaikwad stands tall, proving his worth time and again, yet the endless wait for his big break has become his only constant.
Making his debut in the prestigious blue jersey in 2021, his international appearances stayed between two words: replacement and bench warmer. Every time the big stage gave him a chance, he delivered, yet the question remains: what did he get in return?
Who could have been India’s biggest strength is now only waiting on the sidelines. Even after smashing a century in the second ODI vs South Africa, he has been dropped from India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series. You may wonder, “How is this even possible?”—and the entire cricketing world is asking the very same question.
Destined for greatness, stuck in cricket’s cruel limbo
Every kid who first falls in love with cricket imagines himself in the Indian jersey, rehearsing glory in front of the mirror. With every catch he dives like Jonty Rhodes, with every six, he turns himself into Yuvraj Singh, and a bowler imagines himself as Kapil Dev. But does real life ever hand out dreams without struggle?
Thousands dream of representing the nation, a hundred come close, but only a few live in their dream. But does that mean the others are only dreamers and not talented? Not at all, and Ruturaj Gaikwad is the biggest example, someone who has everything the game demands, yet still waits to cross the final line.
The Maharashtra prodigy who shaped himself as a talented wicketkeeper-batter lived his dream of representing his nation in 2021. After he sealed the place, the world thought that Team India finally got a future superstar who would carry the nation on his responsible shoulder.
But the main difference between a movie and life is movie follows a script and life doesn’t, and Gaikwad felt it harder. What once looked destined to be a success story has turned into a tale of sidelines, marked by questionable snubs and puzzling selections. Despite delivering whenever called upon for nearly five years, he played 32 international matches and scored 861 runs.
If domestic runs matter, why is Gaikwad still waiting
For any youngster across the globe, domestic cricket is the primary stage to unveil their talent, and many seize it brilliantly. From grinding red-ball battles to explosive domestic T20s, emerging stars have often left the cricketing world watching in awe. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s cricket dream first took flight when he donned the Maharashtra jersey in 2016.
A promising journey started in the red-ball format, and Gaikwad soon spun his web of excellence across the format. In 43 matches in domestic red-ball format, the batter scored 3146 runs with 9 hundreds and 16 fifties. When words fell short, stats speak itself.
And why just the longest format when the domestic white-ball format witnessed the prime of Gaikwad? Blending his batting brilliance with responsible power-hitting, he turned heads. With 4,904 runs in 97 List A games, including 19 centuries and 19 fifties, and 5,002 runs in 151 domestic T20 matches, his numbers speak louder than the silence around his name.
Numbers can’t lie, as the ongoing domestic season is a living example of it. Completing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on high, he is showcasing excellence in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. If domestic cricket is the backbone of international success, why is Gaikwad’s journey still taking such a puzzling detour?
He is roaring in the domestic circuit with unreal brilliance, and selectors are not finding those efforts in their sight. What could have been repeated chances are now turning into occasional chances and consecutive heartbreaks. The reason behind it? It's unknown.
Century in the last ODI series, but receives a snub as a reward
After tons of ignorance and heartbreaks, Ruturaj Gaikwad finally got a chance to claim his spot in Team India’s squad in the three-match ODI series against South Africa. Even after the first outing ended with disappointment, he might have sensed a danger and unleashed his absolute best.
Taking on the mighty Proteas, Gaikwad brought his flair on the 22 yards, and the world paused to watch his brilliance. Completing an outstanding half-century in 52 deliveries, he kept going on. Smashing the ball all over the ground, he smashed a 77-ball hundred and gave a huge boost to the Men in Blue.
The world hailed his brilliance with hope of his more regular chances in the India blues. But life took another cruel turn. As the selectors announced the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, Ruturaj Gaikwad was snubbed again for some unknown reason.
A batter who just scored an ODI ton faced a snub in the next series, feels unavailable, but this is not astonishing in Gaikwad’s life. He has worked tirelessly, shone every time he got a chance, and yet the reward remains the same: another snub.
What more can Gaikwad do to break the unseen glass wall?
Life without a battle is meaningless, but when the fight is against inexplicable hurdles, it becomes the hardest of all. Whatever the game of cricket asks, Gaikwad has delivered all. The sport asks consistency; he ticked the box. Fans marvel at centuries; he has done that. Situation demands a responsible batter; he stepped into the battle with a brave heart.
He delivered in the domestic stage, showcased excellence in the IPL, and shone in international chances. An one season wonder can become a fluke, but almost a decade-long brilliance can’t be taken lightly. Snubs for form or inconsistency may make sense, but what excuse explains Ruturaj Gaikwad’s story?
He is delivering, and selection is just out of reach, and the story is continuing. But how far will it go on? When Sanju Samson faces a snub, fans raise their voice. When Shami misses out, they question the selection process. If they can stand for them, then why not for Ruturaj Gaikwad?
As the seniors are standing on the brink of their careers, youngsters will take over soon. On that revamped team, Gaikwad can be the secret sauce of success. He just needs to keep grinding; destiny will catch up, turning the game’s overlooked warrior into a force to be reckoned with. But before that, the selection drama needs to end with a fair answer.
