Ex-Opener Blasts Team Selection: Gaikwad 'Must Have'

Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh has openly questioned the selection committee's decision to omit Ruturaj Gaikwad from the ODI squad for the New Zealand series. Ramesh believes Gaikwad deserved a spot, suggesting he could have been selected over all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, whose role in the team remains unclear.

Ramesh highlighted the redundancy of including a fifth seam-bowling option for a home series. He pointed out that Gaikwad's recent century against South Africa demonstrated his current form, making his exclusion puzzling, especially when the team composition seemed to favor pace options over proven batting talent.

While acknowledging that Gaikwad might be considered if Shreyas Iyer fails a fitness test, Ramesh asserted that Gaikwad should have been a guaranteed inclusion from the outset. He stressed that replacements can easily be called up for home series if needed, making Gaikwad's initial omission a significant oversight.