The Ajit Agarkar-headed selection committee made a surprising call and decided against picking Ruturaj Gaikwad for the T20I series against Bangladesh. Ruturaj, who captained India to a gold medal win in the 2023 Asian Games, looked an automatic pick in the absence of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. But he was pipped by Abhishek Sharma, who has made his T20I comeback.
The selectors hinted at Ruturaj's absence by naming him the captain of the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup. But the fans were still hopeful. The selectors have only picked one specialist opener in Abhishek, which means that Sanju Samson will face the new ball once again.
The fans were upset with Ruturaj's absence from the T20I squad and alleged politics against him. "Unreal Politics against Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is India's batting future still treated so badly," a user wrote on X.
"POLITICS For Ruturaj 1st they snatchd his captaincy in Zim tour making gill captain and took his opening spot, gave 1down then again sent him in middle order after all this he performed then gave weak team in Duleep with uncapped players now selected for Irani for distraction," wrote another user. Check out some reactions to Ruturaj's absence from Team India –
Unreal Politics against Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is India's batting future still treated so badly.
— Anirudh dubey (@adnightowl95) September 28, 2024
POLITICS For #Ruturaj 1st they snatchd his captaincy in Zim tour making gill captain and took his opening spot, gave 1down then again sent him in middle order after all this he performed then gave weak team in Duleep with uncapped players now selected for Irani for distraction pic.twitter.com/vX3DGM38ua
— X-Men (@xmen_199) September 28, 2024
Ruturaj Gaikwad not selected for Indian team Again!Bcci politics or whatRuturaj will show his power in #IPL2025
— Arpan Roy (@SportsArpan) September 28, 2024
Never seen this much of politics for any other player except Ruturaj Gaikwad 🥲💔#BCCI#myankyadavpic.twitter.com/oBBIjMZP8G
— KAUSHAL KUMAR (@Kaushal62641137) September 28, 2024
No Ruturaj Gaikwad For T20Is vs BAN- No Shubman Gill – No Yashasvi Jaiswal Still They Didn't Picked him and went with just 1 Opener for 3 Match Series. Unreal Politics against Rutu.#BCCI#RuturajGaikwadpic.twitter.com/IFozXAK4re
— Ajeet Kumar (@ajeetkr03) September 28, 2024
Ruturaj Gaikwad deserves place in T20i squad against Bangladesh. Unreal politics done by BCCI 😤#IPLRetentions#IPL2O25#INDvBANpic.twitter.com/pVo014oNYG
— Gajan (@JayHind108) September 28, 2024
Ruturaj, who made his T20I debut in 2021, has played 23 T20Is and six ODIs He hasn't been selected for an ICC event yet. Ruturaj has scored 633 runs in 23 T20Is at an average of 39.56. He has a strike rate of 143.53. He has one century and four half-centuries in the shortest format.
Ruturaj is the captain of IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings and he can make his return with a solid batting show in the next season. He could also make his return for the T20I series against South Africa in November.
The three India-Bangladesh T20Is will be played in Gwalior, Delhi and Hyderabad on October 6, 9 and 12, respectively. Team India will host New Zealand in three Tests after the T20I series.