"What a scam" - Fans react as Ruturaj Gaikwad ignored in T20Is and ODIs for Sri Lanka tour
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been ignored for the upcoming white-ball series in Sri Lanka, which starts on July 27. The right-hander failed to make it to India's squad for the three T20Is and as many ODIs after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released 15-member sides for the two formats on Thursday, July 18.
Gaikwad, who led India to the 2023 Asian Games gold, scored 133 runs in his three innings during the T20I series in Zimbabwe. He was the fourth-highest leading run-scorer in the series, scoring 7, 77* and 49.
Overall, Gaikwad has 633 runs in 23 T20Is at a strike rate of 143.53, including a century and four 50s. In ODIs, he has failed to deliver for the Men in Blue, scoring 115 runs in six matches at a poor average of 19.16, including a solitary half-century.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) were disappointed to see Gaikwad not make it to the India squad for the Sri Lanka tour. The BCCI didn't even clarify whether he was rested for the white-ball series. One user wrote:
"What a scam no place for Ruturaj Gaikwad #bcci."
Another user wrote:
"Shame on you @BCCI. Whenever #RuturajGaikwad got a chance he performed but not considered in any format because of favourism. You just ruin your upcoming future of Indian Cricket."
"Ruturaj gaikwad better than gill this is not fair," a third user added.
Here are a few more reactions:
“Wherever the team wants me to bat" - Ruturaj Gaikwad during India tour of Zimbabwe
Ruturaj Gaikwad recently revealed that he is open to playing at any position for Team India. The 27-year-old said (via Hindustan Times):
“Wherever the team wants me to bat, I'm willing to bat there. There isn't much difference between opening and No. 3, because you have to play against the new ball."
Apart from Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma also failed to find a place in the T20I squad. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as T20I captain ahead of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, while Shubman Gill will serve as Suryakumar's deputy. The series will mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir's coaching in Indian cricket.
India squads for Sri Lanka's white-ball tour:
T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.
ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Ꮪhubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Riyan Parag, Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana.