Aakash Chopra questions Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence for India and India-A in any format

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from India and India A squad across formats. Chopra shared his surprise that Gaikwad was not included in India A squad for the ongoing multi-day format series against Australia A despite being in good form. 

Gaikwad recently scored 200 runs in one match of the Duleep Trophy while playing for the West Zone. The right-hander had scored 122 runs in five matches of IPL 2025 before he was ruled out of the tournament.

Chopra highlighted that Gaikwad had also led India to Gold medal in the Asian Games 2023. Gaikwad had scored 65 runs in two innings of the tournament.

“It’s a good question, and the question is extremely important because he has scored runs. I agree he was injured for some time. However, he scored runs in the Duleep Trophy as well, where Rajat Patidar also scored runs. It’s praiseworthy that two back-to-back IPL-winning captains lifted domestic trophies as well,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Shreyas Iyer did that, and Rajat Patidar has also done it. It seems like captaincy is suiting Rajat Patidar. Coming to Ruturaj Gaikwad, he scored a century against Australia in Guwahati and is a technically compact player. He was the captain in the Asian Games. We won the Asian Games under Ruturaj’s captaincy. He is a very, very good player,” he added.

The renowned commentator said it is not fair that Gaikwad hasn’t been included for both the white-ball (three ODIs) and red-ball series against Australia A.

“It’s a slight travesty that your name gets lost among so many names. However, I can understand the Indian selection, but I feel it’s not right if his name doesn’t come for India-A both in multi-day and one-dayers,” he said (10:25) in the same video.

“His name should be there somewhere or other. He is too good a player to actually miss out completely from every single thing. That is what I feel,” Chopra observed.

Gaikwad would look to grab his opportunity with both hands whenever he gets his deserved chance.