Will Indian batter Ruturaj Gaikwad feature in Border-Gavaskar Trophy?
According to recent reports, Ruturaj Gaikwad, the rising star of Indian cricket, has been intentionally omitted from the squad for the upcoming Bangladesh T20I series. This strategic move by the Indian management aims to prepare Gaikwad for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India Down Under. Despite expectations of Gaikwad joining Abhishek Sharma as India's second opener in the Bangladesh series, he was appointed as Rest of India's captain in the 2024 Irani Cup against Mumbai.
Gaikwad's potential role in Australia
The Indian management is prepping Gaikwad to take the third opener's role. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has made it clear that he wants Gaikwad to step up in case either skipper Rohit Sharma or Yashasvi Jaiswal are not available. A source told the Times of India, "The selectors and team management want him as the third opener in Australia." This move shows the team's trust in Gaikwad's skills and their smart planning for any unexpected situations during long Test series.
Gaikwad's impressive rise through the ranks
Gaikwad's career has been on a serious upswing lately. He was made the Chennai Super Kings captain back in March and then took the reins of Maharashtra's Ranji Trophy team in July. His leadership chops were recognized again when he was named captain for the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup. These appointments show that the Indian management really believes in his potential and is eager to see him shine in Test cricket.
A look at Gaikwad's FC career
Gaikwad's First-Class career has been remarkable. He has scored 2,273 runs in 55 innings across 32 matches, with an average of 42.88. He has hit six centuries and 12 half-centuries in the format, with his highest score being 195 runs. Recently, he was captaining India C in the Duleep Trophy. His scores in the tournament read 5, 46, 58, 62, 17, and 44.
