Ruturaj Gaikwad finds himself back in familiar territory — scoring runs, earning praise, but still watching India’s ODI squad announcements from the outside. Despite smashing a fluent hundred against South Africa recently, the 27-year-old batter was once again left out as the selectors named the squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
The decision has sparked debate, and now a senior voice from inside Indian cricket has weighed in. Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t mince words while discussing Gaikwad’s situation on his YouTube channel.
‘A Straight Call Between Pant and Ruturaj’
Ashwin said Gaikwad’s inclusion was very much on the table, but the selectors were forced into a tough binary choice.
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“Could Gaikwad have been kept in the squad? I think that was a real possibility,” Ashwin said, adding that it eventually came down to a straight decision between Gaikwad and Rishabh Pant.
Pant, Ashwin explained, edged ahead mainly because he brings left-handed balance to the batting order and doubles up as a wicketkeeper — a combination selectors value heavily in white-ball cricket.
Questioning the Second Wicketkeeper Logic
While Ashwin accepted Pant’s selection logic, he did raise a valid question: was a second specialist wicketkeeper really necessary?
“Between a second wicketkeeper and a batter, you can get a keeper from anywhere to cover,” he said, hinting that a pure batter like Gaikwad might have added more flexibility to the XI.
Ashwin also made it clear that Shreyas Iyer’s return to the ODI setup was never in doubt, calling it “his rightful position” in the middle order.
More Than Just an Opener
One of the strongest endorsements Ashwin gave Gaikwad was about his versatility. Often labelled as an opener, Gaikwad, according to Ashwin, has the tools to thrive in the middle order too.
“At four or five, I’m sticking my neck out — his batting against spin, his running between the wickets, and his ability to close out an innings is phenomenal,” Ashwin said.
It’s high praise, especially coming from someone who has watched Indian batters up close for over a decade.
The Real Worry: Mindset and Missed Chances
Ashwin’s biggest concern, however, wasn’t technique or talent. It was Gaikwad’s mental space.
“My main concern is Ruturaj Gaikwad’s mindset,” he admitted, pointing out that despite excellent T20 numbers, Gaikwad’s opportunities at the international level have been few and far between.
Right now, Ashwin feels the equation is brutally simple: Pant versus Gaikwad — with Pant holding the advantage as a left-hander who can keep wickets.
Blocked by Big Names at the Top
And then there’s the elephant in the room. India’s ODI top order is still locked in by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Ashwin didn’t shy away from stating what many fans already suspect.
“Ruturaj will likely get a long run in ODIs only after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire from the format,” he said.
It’s a blunt assessment — and a reminder of how timing can matter just as much as talent in international cricket.
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India’s ODI Squad vs New Zealand
India’s ODI squad for the New Zealand series includes: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (*subject to fitness clearance).
For Gaikwad, the wait continues — and so does the conversation around when, not if, his ODI chapter truly begins.
