'Poor fellow!': Srikkanth lashes out at selectors for ignoring Ruturaj Gaikwad

Former Indian cricketer Krisnamachari Srikkanth expressed sympathy with India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad after he was snubbed from Indias T20I squad for South Africa tour and Test squad for the BorderGavaskar Trophy 202425 against Australia away from home starting from NovemberSrikkanth was speaking on his Youtube channel days after the BCCI announced Indias T20I squad for the SA tour starting from November 8 consisting of four T20Is and the BorderGavaskar Trophy 202425 a fivematch Test series against Australia starting from November 22 onwards at PerthSrikkanth questioned selectors as to how much more Gaikwad is supposed to do and what is the plan of the selection committee regarding himGaikwad has proved to be a prolific T20I batter in his short career so far having made 633 runs in 20 innings at an average of 3956 and a strike rate of 14353 with a century and four fifties and a best score of 123 He has also been extremely consistent for his Indian Premier League IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings CSK over the years having made 583 runs in 14 matches this season at an average of 5300 strike rate of 14116 a century and four fiftiesHe is also having a fine Ranji Trophy season for Maharashtra having made 231 runs in three innings at an average of 7700 with a century and fifty and a best score of 145 In 35 firstclass matches he has scored 2513 runs at an average of 4408 with seven centuries and 13 fifties in 59 innings and best score of 195Also ReadGambhirrsquos India in a tailspinAbhimanyu Easwaran was picked up as a backup opener for skipper Rohit Sharma in place of Ruturaj after having a fine start to his season scoring 632 runs in eight innings since the start of the new domestic season including four centuries The 29yearold Bengal batter has scored 7638 runs at an average of 4992 in 99 firstclass games with 27 centuries and 29 fifties in 169 innings and best score of 233Speaking on his Youtube Channel Srikkanth said See for Ruturaj I do not understand at all Poor fellow What will he do If he scores a century then they can take him back into the T20I squad right He scored two firstclass centuries but still did not get a chance He got scores to back him up Where should that guy be going nowAbhimanyu Easwarans performance has been brilliant I am not questioning that But what are you doing with Ruturaj Why are not they twirling around with him What is the plan Let them do what they want with him Just look at the mindset of that kid and tell me what he should be doing in this match against you guys He keeps on hitting the opponents all day long but then when it comes to international cricket you leave him behind And when they give him a chance it is for the Rest of India or India A Srikkanth said in the same videoThe most awaited BorderGavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22 with the first Test at PerthThe second Test scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval will feature the exciting daynight format under the stadiums lights After that fans will turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test which will be held from December 14 to 18The customary Boxing Day Test set for December 26 to 30 at Melbournes storied Melbourne Cricket Ground will bring the series to its penultimate stageThe fifth and final Test to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7 will serve as the series climax promising a dramatic conclusion to an exciting contestIndias squad for the BorderGavaskar Trophy Rohit Sharma C Jasprit Bumrah VC Yashasvi Jaiswal Abhimanyu Easwaran Shubman Gill Virat Kohli KL Rahul Rishabh Pant WK Sarfaraz Khan Dhruv Jurel WK R Ashwin R Jadeja Mohd Siraj Akash Deep Prasidh Krishna Harshit Rana Nitish Kumar Reddy Washington SundarIndias T20I Squad for South Africa series Suryakumar Yadav Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson Rinku Singh Tilak Varma Jitesh Sharma Hardik Pandya Axar Patel Ramandeep Singh Varun Chakaravarthy Ravi Bishnoi Arshdeep Singh Vijaykumar Vyshak Avesh Khan Yash DayalWith agency inputs