Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence from the India squad for the Bangladesh T20I series raised many eyebrows, especially after his performance as India C’s captain in the Duleep Trophy 2024, where he averaged 38.5. While Gaikwad was expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, his exclusion was intentional, as the Indian team management has specific plans for him ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Gaikwad’s Role as a Potential Opener for Australia Tour

Gaikwad is likely to be India’s third opener for the Australia Test series, serving as a backup in case Yashasvi Jaiswal or Rohit Sharma are unavailable. Head coach Gautam Gambhir wants Gaikwad to stay active in red-ball cricket, making him an ideal candidate to step in for a long five-Test series. This focus on red-ball cricket is why Gaikwad was made captain of the Rest of India (ROI) in the Irani Cup against Mumbai, rather than being included in the T20I squad for Bangladesh.

A Planned Move by the Indian Management

According to sources, the selectors and team management want Gaikwad to keep honing his skills in red-ball matches, ensuring he is ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. With limited strong candidates for the third opener’s slot, Gaikwad fits the role perfectly and has been intentionally rested from the shorter formats.

Gaikwad’s Recent Rise in Leadership Roles

Gaikwad’s rise in Indian cricket has been notable. He captained Chennai Super Kings in March, was named Maharashtra’s captain for the Ranji Trophy 2023-24, and led teams in both the Duleep Trophy and now the Irani Cup. The Indian management sees potential in his leadership and batting skills, aiming to prepare him for future Test cricket responsibilities.

While his exclusion from the Bangladesh T20I series may have seemed surprising, Gaikwad’s path is carefully planned, with the management setting their sights on his development as a key player for India’s red-ball future.

The Duleep Trophy 2024-25 is set to begin on September 5, and the BCCI has announced the captains for the four squads. Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead their respective teams in this prestigious first-class tournament.

Key Highlights

• Team A:
  • Captain: Shubman Gill
  • Notable Players: Riyan Parag, KL Rahul, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav
  • Overview: Gill’s team includes a mix of experience and youth, with key players like KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav aiming to make a significant impact.
• Team B:
  • Captain: Abhimanyu Easwaran
  • Notable Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar
  • Overview: Easwaran will lead a strong side featuring experienced internationals like Ravindra Jadeja and upcoming talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal.
• Team C:
  • Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad
  • Notable Players: Suryakumar Yadav, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar
  • Overview: Gaikwad’s team is bolstered by the presence of explosive batsman Suryakumar Yadav and consistent performers like Sai Sudharsan.
• Team D:
  • Captain: Shreyas Iyer
  • Notable Players: Ishan Kishan, Devdutt Padikkal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh
  • Overview: Iyer will lead a well-rounded squad featuring star players like Ishan Kishan and all-rounder Axar Patel.

Tournament Details

• Start Date: September 5, 2024
• End Date: September 22, 2024
• Venues: Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh & Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

BCCI’s Selection Strategy

The BCCI has included many players from India’s senior squads in this year’s Duleep Trophy, except for a few like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and R Ashwin. Mohammed Shami continues his rehabilitation and is not part of the tournament.

The players selected for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh will be replaced in the Duleep Trophy squads.