Cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra believes that Ruturaj Gaikwad will face an extended wait before cementing a regular place in India’s national cricket team. According to Chopra, Gaikwad’s prospects are currently limited, as Shubman Gill, one of his primary competitors for a top-order spot, has surged ahead in the race to represent India in all formats.

India is set to face Bangladesh in a two-Test series, with the first match scheduled for September 19 in Chennai. While Gill has been included in the squad, Gaikwad’s exclusion highlights the uphill battle the Maharashtra batter faces to secure a place in the national side. Despite Gaikwad’s impressive domestic and IPL performances, his international opportunities seem to be limited for the foreseeable future.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked about Gaikwad’s chances of securing a spot in the Indian team. He acknowledged the growing fan base around Gaikwad but pointed out that Gill’s rapid rise has left the talented opener in a difficult position.

“He has a fan club now. A base has been created that likes Ruturaj Gaikwad, which is fair. Honestly, when Rutu bats—’Dukh bhare din beete re bhaiya, ab sukh aayo re’—you get a feeling like that. You watch him playing drives with the straight bat, cut shots, and pulls. He looks technically compact, batting like pure desi ghee,” Chopra commented . 

However, Chopra emphasized that the timing is unfortunate for Gaikwad as Gill is already viewed as a potential future captain. “What is happening with Ruturaj Gaikwad is that at this point, at least for another one to one-and-a-half years, he is at the wrong time. Shubman Gill has gone far ahead in that race. Whoever is attached to Indian cricket, whether it’s the captain, coaches, or selectors, everyone has decided that Shubman Gill is your next captain and superstar,” Chopra added  .

Gill, who recently captained India in a T20I series against Zimbabwe and served as vice-captain during the T20I series against Sri Lanka, has firmly established himself as a key player in India’s top order. His consistent performances across formats have made it difficult for other players like Gaikwad to break into the team.

Chopra further explained that there is currently no vacant spot in the Test side for Gaikwad, given the depth of India’s top-order options. “If we talk about Test cricket, Yashasvi Jaiswal is there with Rohit Sharma at the top. They will remain for quite some time. Then Shubman Gill has come at No. 3, Virat Kohli is at No. 4, and then you will have a wicketkeeper, which is Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul at No. 5 at the moment, and someone else might come later,” Chopra explained .

The competition for top-order spots in Test cricket is fierce, with several young players like Jaiswal and Gill already making their mark alongside seasoned veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Regarding limited-overs cricket, Chopra noted that India does not play many ODI matches, further diminishing Gaikwad’s opportunities to show his talent. Despite this, Gaikwad has not been able to capitalize on his chances in ODIs, scoring just 115 runs at an average of 19.17 across six matches. His T20I record is more promising, with 633 runs at an average of 39.56 and a strike rate of 143.53 in 20 innings .

“India doesn’t play ODI cricket and will not play as well. So Ruturaj Gaikwad will have to wait. I don’t think anyone will consider him for T20 cricket in any case at this point in time because Virat and Rohit have left and the T20 template will be created differently where very aggressive batters will be selected,” Chopra remarked .

While Gaikwad has demonstrated his potential in the IPL and domestic circuits, the competition at the international level is intense, particularly with players like Gill performing consistently. For now, it seems Gaikwad will have to wait for a vacancy to open up, either due to changes in team composition or dips in form from his competitors.

With India’s cricket schedule offering fewer opportunities in certain formats and a new T20 template likely on the horizon, Gaikwad’s path to consistent international cricket remains challenging. However, his fan base and undeniable talent suggest that his time may come eventually, though patience will be key.