Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shed light on the continued absence of young batter Ruturaj Gaikwad from the national One-Day International team. Ashwin pointed to the intense competition for places, specifically from senior stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as a key reason.
Ashwin's Analysis on a Tough Selection Call
The discussion was triggered after Gaikwad, who recently scored a brilliant maiden ODI century against South Africa, was surprisingly left out of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The squad was announced on Saturday, January 3. The selectors opted for the returning Rishabh Pant instead, a decision Ashwin analyzed on his YouTube channel.
"Could Gaikwad have been kept in the squad? I think that was a possibility," Ashwin stated. He described the choice as a direct one between Gaikwad and Pant, with the latter holding a specific advantage. "Right now, it is a straight choice between Gaikwad and Rishabh Pant, with Pant having the advantage of being the left-hander," Ashwin added, highlighting the value of a left-handed batter in the middle order for team balance.
Ashwin also touched upon the role of KL Rahul as the primary wicketkeeper, suggesting that the need for a second keeper is less critical. "Between a second wicketkeeper and a batter, you can get a keeper from anywhere to cover," he opined.
High Praise for Gaikwad's Unmatched Skills
Despite explaining the selection dilemma, Ashwin was full of praise for Gaikwad's batting abilities. He strongly advocated for the opener's potential in the middle order.
"At four or five, I am sticking my neck out, his batting against spin, his running between the wickets, and his ability to close out an innings is phenomenal," Ashwin remarked. He expressed that his main concern is not Gaikwad's skill but his mindset, given the limited opportunities despite excellent performances, including impressive T20 statistics.
A Realistic Future Timeline for Gaikwad
Ashwin provided a sobering yet realistic outlook on when Ruturaj Gaikwad might secure a permanent spot in the ODI lineup. He indicated that the pathway is currently blocked by two of India's modern greats.
"Ruturaj will likely get a long run in ODIs only after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from the format," Ashwin said, underscoring the level of competition at the top of the order.
Showing support for his former Chennai Super Kings teammate, Ashwin also took to social media platform X. He posted an encouraging message: "No matter how you feel. Get up, dress up, pad up, show up, and never give up. It can be hard to miss, but such is the competition for places in the Indian team. #RuturajGaikwad".
The ODI series against New Zealand, where Shubman Gill will captain the side, begins on January 11 in Vadodara. The full squad includes: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
