Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh has questioned the selectors for mishandling Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Ramesh expressed his surprise that Gaikwad was not even named in initial India A squad for the tri-series against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A.
Gaikwad was named as Riyan Parag’s replacement after the latter was ruled out with an injury. Gaikwad, who wasn’t in the best of forms in IPL 2026 while leading Chennai Super Kings, has scored 167 runs in two matches in the ongoing tri-series at an average of 83.50 and a strike rate of 86.08. The right-hander scored an impressive knock of 101 runs off 114 balls against Sri Lanka A and was awarded Player of the Match.
Earlier, Yashasv Jaiswal was named as Virat Kohli’s replacement for Afghanistan ODIs after the latter was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Sadagopan Ramesh said on his YouTube Channel, “Ruturaj should have at least been the backup batter in the squad. It’s wrong to even ask what someone with a century in his last innings for India did in domestic cricket after that. But even if that may be the case, Ruturaj averaged 82 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. It shows that even that has not been considered.”
“To not even be in the radar and be a replacement option even for the A team as someone with a century in his last international innings is sad. Even Ruturaj will be stunned that he has had to replace a player like Riyan Parag in the A team. Even Jaiswal, who scored a century in his last ODI innings, has come in only as a replacement for Virat Kohli. So two guys with centuries in their last ODI innings weren’t even in the original squad.”
Ramesh said it is wrong to consider Gaikwad’s T20 form for ODI selection.
“It was wrong to drop someone who had scored a hundred entirely from the squad. But what’s worse and an all-time error is picking Ruturaj as a replacement option even for the A team. It is wrong to consider his IPL form for the 50-over format. It should only be used for T20Is,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).
Gaikwad scored 337 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2026 at a strike rate of 123.44.
