After an intense Test series between India and Bangladesh, all eyes are now on the upcoming three-match T20 series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the squad for this highly anticipated series, and it has sparked quite a controversy among cricket fans and analysts alike. Several significant decisions shaped the selection process, bringing in fresh talent while some seasoned players made a comeback. However, the most shocking development has been the exclusion of a top-ranking player from the T20 squad—Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The Surprising Exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who currently holds the 9th position in the ICC T20 rankings, notably did not make it to the selected 15-member team. This news left many fans and commentators baffled, especially considering his outstanding recent performances. In his last seven T20 matches, Gaikwad accumulated an impressive 356 runs with an extraordinary average of 71.2 and a robust strike rate of 157.45.
Impressive Performance Metrics
As an opening batsman, Ruturaj Gaikwad has demonstrated remarkable versatility by scoring runs in various positions throughout the team. His statistics for this year are particularly commendable: he scored 133 runs in three T20 matches for India, boasting an average of 66.5 and a strike rate of 158.3. The prior year also saw him thrive, as he amassed 365 runs at an average of 60.8 and a strike rate of 147.2. Despite these impressive numbers, the selectors have continued to overlook him, raising questions about the criteria used for selection.
Gaikwad’s last appearance in the Indian T20 side came during the tour of Zimbabwe, where he performed admirably while batting in different positions. However, after that tour, he was left out for the Sri Lanka series and has now been omitted again for the T20 series against Bangladesh. Over his international career, Ruturaj has played a total of 6 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 23 T20 matches, scoring 115 runs in ODIs at an average of 19.16 and netting 633 runs in T20s at an impressive average of 39.56.
Squad Announcement for the T20 Series Against Bangladesh
The Indian cricket team selected for the upcoming T20 series includes captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with players like Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Ryan Parag. With a mix of youth and experience, the squad aims to deliver outstanding performances against Bangladesh, but many fans will undoubtedly miss the flair and talent of Ruturaj Gaikwad in the lineup.
