"What's the Plan?": Kris Srikkanth Criticizes BCCI’s Snub of Ruturaj Gaikwad for T20I and Test Series

New Delhi — Former India selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has expressed disappointment with the BCCI’s recent decision to exclude Ruturaj Gaikwad from India’s upcoming T20I series against South Africa and the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series in Australia. Srikkanth voiced his frustration on his YouTube channel, questioning the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee’s strategy for the young opener, who has been in impressive form domestically.

Despite an impressive domestic record this season, scoring 472 runs at an average of 47.2 with a century and three fifties, Gaikwad was overlooked for both series. Srikkanth, noting the inconsistency, expressed sympathy for Gaikwad’s situation, stating, “I don’t understand it at all. Poor fellow! What will he do? He scored two first-class centuries but still didn’t get a chance. Where should that guy be going now?”

A String of Missed Opportunities for Gaikwad

Gaikwad’s near-miss opportunities have been a recurring theme in his career. In 2023, he was initially named a reserve for the World Test Championship final, later replaced by Yashasvi Jaiswal. Later, Gaikwad was selected for India’s West Indies tour but did not get an appearance. Although he successfully led India to a gold medal in the Asian Games, he missed a subsequent tour of South Africa due to injury. This month, he was named captain for both the Rest of India in the Irani Cup and India A for an upcoming tour in Australia, raising questions about his future prospects in the senior team.

“What’s the Plan?” Srikkanth Asks BCCI

While Srikkanth acknowledged Abhimanyu Easwaran’s strong form, with four centuries in ongoing domestic matches, he focused his critique on BCCI’s inconsistent approach toward Gaikwad’s selection. “Abhimanyu Easwaran’s performance has been brilliant. I’m not questioning that. But what are you doing with Ruturaj? Why aren’t they giving him a consistent chance? What’s the plan?” Srikkanth questioned, urging the selectors to provide a clearer path for Gaikwad.

As Gaikwad leads India A on their tour of Australia, Srikkanth and fans alike hope the BCCI will recognize Gaikwad’s consistent performance and potential, offering him the opportunity to make his mark on the international stage.