Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player Subramaniam Badrinath has expressed his frustration over the exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad from India's squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
Gaikwad's Stellar Performance
IPL 2024 Season:
- Runs: 583
- Average: 53
- Strike Rate: 141.16
Gaikwad, the current CSK skipper, had an outstanding IPL season, scoring consistently and impressing with his strike rate and average.
Series Against Zimbabwe:
- Runs: 133
- Average: 66.60
- Strike Rate: 158.33
In the recent series against Zimbabwe, Gaikwad continued his impressive form, further showcasing his abilities.
Badrinath's Criticism
Badrinath voiced his disappointment with the selection process, suggesting that players like Gaikwad and Rinku Singh are overlooked despite their performances. He hinted that off-field factors might be influencing selection decisions:
"Sometimes it seems like you need a bad guy image when the likes of Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and others are not selected for the Indian team. It seems that you need to be in a relationship with some Bollywood actresses, have a good media manager, and have body tattoos."
Comparison with Shubman Gill
Gaikwad's run-scoring abilities have been compared to Shubman Gill, the vice-captain for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. Both players serve as crucial anchors for their respective IPL teams. Gaikwad has proven his versatility by performing well in different batting positions for India.
Gaikwad's Record at MA Chidambaram Stadium (since 2023):
- Runs: 706 in 15 innings
- Average: 58.83
- Strike Rate: 139.80
- Centuries: 1
- Fifties: 5
Overall Record Away from Chepauk:
- Runs: 1209 in 31 innings
- Strike Rate: 155
Badrinath's comments highlight a growing concern about the selection criteria for the Indian cricket team. Despite Gaikwad's impressive performances, his omission from the squad raises questions about the factors influencing team selection. Badrinath's critique underscores the need for a transparent and performance-based selection process, ensuring deserving players get their due recognition.
India T20I squad for Sri Lanka tour: 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, Mohd. Siraj.