Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth questioned the logic behind the current selection committee, led by former cricketer Ajit Agarkar, excluding Ruturaj Gaikwad from both of India's upcoming international fixtures - a four-match T20I series against South Africa and a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.
Earlier this month, a media source said that Gaikwad may become India's backup opener in the Australia Test series, earning his Test cap since skipper Rohit Sharma is expected to miss one of the first two matches due to personal reasons.
However, despite a strong performance in the continuing domestic season, when he scored 472 runs at 47.2, including a century and three fifties, he was overlooked for both T20Is and Tests. Abhimanyu Easwaran was picked as the third opener in the Indian Test squad for the Australia series.
Speaking on his YouTube channel after the two squads were announced, Srikkanth stated that he was perplexed by the BCCI's decision and sympathized with the youngster.
“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 on his YouTube channel.
He was selected as a traveling reserve for the World Test Championship final in 2023 but was replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal due to personal commitments. He was later selected for the subsequent West Indies tour but did not appear.
Gaikwad, who led India to a gold medal in the Asian Games that summer, was called up for the December tour of South Africa, but due to an injury, Abhimanyu Easwaran took his place.
Srikkanth stressed that he was not disputing Easwaran's selection, who has scored four centuries in a row in the recent domestic season. Srikkanth was directing his inquiries to the Agarkar-led selection committee, asking about their plans for Gaikwad.
“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,” he said.
