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‘I Don't Understand At All’- World Cup Winner Slams BCCI After CSK Skipper Dropped From AUS, SA Tours

Ruturaj Gaikwad was dropped from India squads for AUS, SA tours [Source: @ShuhidAufridi/x]Ruturaj Gaikwad was dropped from India squads for AUS, SA tours [Source: @ShuhidAufridi/x]

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) simultaneously announced India’s travelling squads for the upcoming tours of Australia and South Africa on October 25, i.e., earlier this month. Notably, CSK captain and rising star Ruturaj Gaikwad was excluded from both line-ups, prompting former cricketer Kris Srikkanth to lash out at the selection committee.

Gaikwad, having played six ODIs and 23 T20I matches since his debut in July 2021, is yet to make his Test debut for Team India. Despite averaging 44.08 in first-class cricket, the 27-year-old was ignored for the upcoming Tests in Australia in favor of Bengal veteran Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Kris Srikkanth questions Ruturaj Gaikwad’s omission

Taking to his YouTube channel, former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth questioned the repeated omissions of CSK skipper and charismatic batter Ruturaj Gaikwad from the national line-up. He said:

“See, for Ruturaj Gaikwad, I don't understand at all. Poor fellow! What will he do? If he scores a century, then they can take him back into the T20I squad, right? He scored two first-class centuries, but still didn't get a chance. He got scores to back him up. Where should that guy be going now?”

Backing the maiden call-up of Abhimanyu Easwaran, Srikkanth claimed that Gaikwad should have also received a similar treatment as the 27-year-old keeps making big runs in domestic cricket. Moreover, the 1983 World Cup winner added that Gaikwad is usually selected for teams like Rest of India or India A instead, in spite of his run-scoring dexterity. He added:

“Abhimanyu Easwaran's performance has been brilliant. I'm not questioning that. But what are you doing with Ruturaj Gaikwad? Why aren't they twirling around with him? What's the plan? Let them do what they want with him."

"Just look at the mindset of that kid and tell me what he should be doing in this match against you guys. He keeps on hitting the opponents all day long, but then, when it comes to international cricket, you leave him behind. And when they give him a chance, it's for the Rest of India or India A.”

Ruturaj Gaikwad averages an astonishing 39.56 after playing 23 T20I matches for Team India. He played the last of those T20Is during India’s tour of Zimbabwe back in July this year. Since then, the cricketer has not been considered for the playing XI of the Indian team.

In first-class cricket, the elegant right-handed batter has mounted over 2,500 runs in 59 innings at an average of nearly 45. Having played for teams like Maharashtra and Rest of India, Gaikwad has plundered seven centuries and 13 fifties in the process.

The Indian cricket team is scheduled to tour South Africa for a four-match T20I series between November 8 and November 15. A week later, a different set of players will commence their five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia.