During India’s just-completed Twenty20 International trip to Zimbabwe, Ruturaj Gaikwad kept in excellent contact. In three innings, the right-handed batter, who appeared in four games, blasted 133 runs at an average of 33.50. After Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who played three and five innings, respectively, he was the third-highest run scorer. But the captain of the Chennai Super Kings was not invited to the next white-ball tour to Sri Lanka.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was not included in either the ODI or T20I squads that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released on July 19.
The BCCI also announced the Indian team for the white-ball trip. Furthermore, Riyan Parag was included into the series in both forms. Former CSK player and cricketer for India, Subramaniam Badrinath, expressed his displeasure by claiming that selectors are mainly drawn to players who have contacts with Bollywood women and colourful characters.
“When players like Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and others aren’t picked for the Indian team, sometimes it seems like you need a bad guy image.” Badrinath posted on his YouTube channel, “It seems that you need to have body tattoos, be in a relationship with some Bollywood actresses, and have a good media manager.”
A bright young player is cut from the roster by BCCI’s selection.
When it comes to Parag’s first game for India, the right-hand hitter only managed two runs. While he did not bat in his second appearance, in his third he scored a meagre 22 runs off of 24 balls.
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Even though he made his debut alongside Parag and unexpectedly produced a brilliant century in the second Twenty20 International after leaving the first game for naught, Abhishek Sharma was not selected for the Lankan tour. In the Indian Premier League 2024, Abhishek batted with a strike rate of above 200, which is noteworthy.