IND vs SL: Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad Not Playing Today’s India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Match?

Ruturaj Gaikwad IND vs SL: After having scored tons of runs in domestic cricket, India’s young opener Ruturaj Gaikwad has not found a place in the playing 11 for the opening T20I encounter against Sri Lanka being played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India will kickstart their 2023 home season with a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which will be followed by as many as three ODI matches against the same opposition.

IND vs SL: Why is Ruturaj Gaikwad Not Playing Today’s India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Match?

During the recently concluded edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2022, Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed a blistering total of 660 runs from just 5 games at a phenomenal average of 220 that included as many as 4 centuries. He also achieved a world record after having smashed a total of 7 sixes in a single over of a 50-overs match. Ruturaj has previously played T20I cricket for India having scored 135 runs from 9 games at a strike-rate of 123.85 that includes one half-century as well, but was not given a longer run in the national team. However, Shubman Gill opened the batting with Ishan Kishan while the 25-year-old Maharashtra batsman is still warming the bench on his comeback in this first T20I match against Sri Lanka.

“Excited. Always been excited to play for the country, but obviously leading now makes it more special. Excited to see how this new bunch of guys express themselves. We were going to bat first. Yes this is a chasing ground but we want to put ourselves in more difficult situations generally in bilaterals. Anyone who comes here we will make sure we’ll give them the confidence. Two debutants today – Gill and Mavi. Arshdeep was not available,” said India captain Hardik Pandya during the toss.

IND Playing 11

1. Ishan Kishan (wk)
2. Shubman Gill
3. Suryakumar Yadav
4. Sanju Samson
5. Hardik Pandya (C)
6. Deepak Hooda
7. Axar Patel
8. Shivam Mavi
9. Harshal Patel
10. Umran Malik
11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Ruturaj Gaikwad not making it into the XI is pure politics from Hardik Pandya. He has surely performed better than Gill and Ishan since 2020 in IPL and deserves a place in the side over them. He is just being kept out because he plays for the most successful franchise , CSK.

— ` (@FourOverthrows) January 3, 2023

Politics is clear.
Injustice for Rahul tripathi and ruturaj gaikwad !! pic.twitter.com/U4IWtSJIYa

— Unstoppable hitman⁴⁵ {inactive} (@emotionhitman45) January 3, 2023

India vs Sri Lanka 2023 Schedule