Srikkanth Questions BCCI's Snub of Gaikwad Amid Strong Form

Former India cricketer and selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has openly criticised the BCCI's decision to exclude Ruturaj Gaikwad from India's upcoming T20I series against South Africa and the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia. Srikkanth questioned the rationale of the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee, especially given Gaikwad’s consistent performances and recent leadership of the India A team. Reports had suggested that Gaikwad might serve as a backup opener in the Australia Test series, with potential for a Test debut if captain Rohit Sharma missed any early matches due to personal reasons. Despite scoring 472 runs in domestic cricket this season, Gaikwad was overlooked for both formats.

Srikkanth expressed frustration on his YouTube channel, stating that the BCCI’s decision is baffling and unfair to the talented Gaikwad. He pointed to Gaikwad’s accomplishments, including his role in India's gold medal win at the Asian Games and his recent century in domestic matches, wondering why these achievements haven’t led to a national call-up.

While Srikkanth acknowledged Abhimanyu Easwaran’s strong domestic season, he questioned the selection committee’s plans for Gaikwad, urging clarity on his future in Indian cricket. According to Srikkanth, Gaikwad deserves opportunities beyond domestic tournaments like the Irani Cup or India A matches and should be considered for the national team, given his potential and performance trajectory.