"Ruturaj Robbed." - Twitterati react as India leave out young batter in 1st ODI vs Zimbabwe

Ruturaj Gaikwad is yet to make his ODI debut for India.

India left out young batter Ruturaj Gaikwad from their playing XI for the first ODI against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday, August 18.

The visitors picked Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill over Ruturaj in the series opener, with Sanju Samson and Deepak Hooda also featuring in the playing XI.

Despite playing nine T20Is, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener is yet to make his ODI debut. He was also picked for the recent three-match ODI series against the West Indies, but didn't get to play a game.

Fans were extremely disappointed to see Ruturaj once again warming the benches despite India traveling with a second-string squad to Zimbabwe. Many claimed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is wasting his talent by not playing him.

Here are some of the reactions:

No Ruturaj Gaikwad again in todays 11 , extremely disappointed with management ,he is just going to warm benches now . He has been a part of team since months but no opportunities .

Tenth ODI for Ruturaj Gaikwad in the squad. He is yet to make his debut.

#ZIMvIND #INDvZIM #ZIMvsIND #INDvsZIM #TeamIndia https://t.co/Ba9OCH5A23

Ruturaj Gaikwad is not playing,

TV OFFF

Ruturaj Gaikwad will be next sanju Samson, Mark my words!

@BCCI My rutu robbed again

@BCCI Damet Where is Rutu Again U guys Gonna Bench Him Like U did in West Indies Tour Common Next Matches he has to Play He Has A Lot of potential U gonna give him the Opportunity without giving a Chance How Can you know About his Skills 😑😑😤

@BCCI No Ruturaj No Tripathi 🙄

@BCCI Ruturaj Sucked
Most Successful against spin
Most Successful in domestic
Odi format
Great Strike rate than Gill & greater average & odi player than Kishan then also not in a playing XI.

@BCCI Starting to think Ruturaj will never play a game at any circumstances!!😓

@BCCI Why not Ruturaj, how long will the captain continue to do politics in the team's 11???

@BCCI Rutu🥺🥺

@BCCI No R Gaikwad

@BCCI Ruturaj Robbed.

@BCCI Rutu should have played ahead of Ishan 😠

Indian spikker KL Rahul, meanwhile, opted to field first after winning the toss. Deepak Chahar, who is making a comeback after a long injury haul, provided India with the first breakthrough, dismissing Innocent Kaia for four off 20 balls.

"If he gets five games in a row, he is going to perform" - Robin Uthappa on teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad

Veteran batter Robin Uthappa has backed Ruturaj to come good in international cricket if he gets a long rope. The 2007 World T20 winner feels Gaikwad could be an all-format player for India in the future.

Speaking at a media interaction organized by Sony, Uthappa said:

"One has to understand that the IPL is one of the best tournaments in the world. But you also have to understand that Ruturaj is someone who has grown into each position. Even when he made his debut in the IPL, it took him a few games before he came into his own."

The wicketkeeper-batter continued:

"Unfortunately with the Indian team he is not getting those number of games because he is a little bit of a feeler as far as a person is concerned. As far as being a person is concerned. He feels his way around things and he's very attuned to his feelings.

"Rutu is someone if he gets five games in a row, he is going to perform and then you will feel like here is a player who can play all three formats for the country and how do we invest in him."

Ruturaj will hope to get some game time in the last two ODIs of the series and present a case for himself.

He has an excellent List A record, amassing 3284 runs, including 11 centuries and 16 fifties, in 64 matches at an average of almost 55.