• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 05/02/2024
• 0 Comments

Former Indian cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth has expressed his discontent with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over Ruturaj Gaikwad ‘s exclusion from the 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings captain, is currently leading the Orange Cap race in IPL 2024 and has shown exceptional form throughout the tournament.

Gaikwad’s Impressive Form

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s recent performances in the IPL have been nothing short of spectacular. He has dominated the Orange Cap race with a staggering 509 runs in just 10 matches, maintaining a formidable strike rate of 146.68. Gaikwad’s outstanding consistency is evident in his one century and four half-centuries, a feat that surpasses other Indian openers such as Shubman Gill (320 runs), Rohit Sharma (315 runs), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Despite his impressive performance, Gaikwad was not selected for the T20 World Cup squad or the four-member reserve list. Instead, the BCCI opted for Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Virat Kohli in the top order, with Shubman Gill included in the reserves.

Also read Preserving CSK Legacy: Ruturaj Gaikwad ‘s Leadership Approach

Srikkanth’s Criticism

In a heated commentary on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth expressed frustration over Gaikwad’s exclusion from the squad and accused the BCCI of favouritism. He specifically targeted the decision to include Gill in the squad despite his recent poor form.

Krishnamachari Srikanth is very angry because of Shubhman Gill getting selected instead of Ruturaj Gaikwad.. pic.twitter.com/vPlUhgF004

— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) May 2, 2024

“Shubman Gill is totally out of form, but why is he selected in the team? There’s no doubt that Ruturaj Gaikwad deserves a place. He scored more than 500 runs in 17 innings, and he even scored a century against Australia. Shubman Gill is selectors’ delight. He gets chances even if he fails,” Srikkanth stated.

Srikkanth’s critique was not limited to Gaikwad’s exclusion. He also criticized the perceived favouritism in the selection process, which he believes has impacted other players such as KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer.

Also read Indian Squad for T20 World Cup Announced: In From Rishabh Pant, Dube, Samson Earn a Spot

Apart from Gaikwad’s snub, other notable omissions from the T20 World Cup squad include KL Rahul, who was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter at the 2023 ODI World Cup, and Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer. Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson was included in the squad, while Riyan Parag was overlooked.