New Delhi: India great Krisnamachari Srikkanth lashed out at the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel and the Indian team management over Ruturaj Gaikwad’s snub from India’s squad for their upcoming Test series against Australia. Despite performing consistently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the domestic circuit, Gaikwad has failed to get a consistent run for India in any of the three formats.
Despite having done well for India in T20Is, Gaikwad was not selected in the squad for the Bangladesh T20I series at home earlier this year with reports claiming that the team management was planning to utilise his skills in red-ball cricket. Gaikwad was thus expected to make the cut as the 3rd opener in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
However, Gaikwad’s name was missing once again as the BCCI announced India’s squad for the Australia tour last week. The selectors opted to go with Abhimanyu Easwaran as the 3rd opener in the squad considering his current rich vein of form. Easwaran has been enjoying a fantastic run in the domestic circuit having scored 4 centuries in a row.
But Gaikwad’s continued absence didn’t go down well with Srikanth, who went on a rant as he lashed out at the selectors and the team management. Srikanth highlighted Gaikwad’s consistency in white-ball and red-ball cricket and wondered what more will the right-hander have to do to get regular chances in the Indian team. Srikanth also questioned pacer Mayank Yadav’s recurring injury issues amid his absence from the T20 squad for the South Africa tour.
“I don’t understand it at all. When they say that Mayank Yadav bowled for a few overs and now he has also become unfit like Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag. See, for Ruturaj, 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?”, Srikkanth said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Gaikwad recently slammed a brilliant century for Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy clash against defending champions Mumbai. The opening batter scored 145 runs batting at no.3. He had earlier played a fabulous knock of 86 runs in Maharashtra’s opener against Jammu & Kashmir. Srikanth questioned the selectors’ plans for Gaikwad and asked when will the batter get his opportunities.
“Abhimanyu Easwaran’s performance has been brilliant. I’m not questioning that. But what are you doing with Ruturaj? 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,” Srikkanth added.
Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India A in Australia
Gaikwad is all set to lead the India A team on their ongoing tour of Australia. India A team consisting of the likes of Sai Sudharsan, Easwaran, Nitish Reddy, Ishan Kishan and Mukesh Kumar among others will play two first-class matches against Australia A. The India A team will also play a warm-up match against Rohit Sharma-led senior Indian team.
The warm-up match will be played on November 15 before the start of the five-match Test series between India and Australia. Gaikwad will aim to perform consistently on India’s A tour of Australia which might bring him in contention to be selected in India’s main squad for the Australia series.
