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Ruturaj Gaikwad as Third Opener for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was left out of the T20I squad for the series against Bangladesh, is expected to be selected as the third opener for India’s Test team in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was overlooked by the BCCI for the T20I series against Bangladesh, is set for selection in India’s Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The Times of India reported that Gaikwad will serve as the third opener, as he has yet to make his Test debut.
Selectors believe Gaikwad can provide the necessary depth as an opener. Notably, he is also leading the Rest of India team in the ongoing Irani Cup match against Mumbai to gain more experience in red-ball cricket.
“There has been a lot of hue and cry after Gaikwad wasn’t picked for the T20Is against Bangladesh despite regular T20I openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill being rested. The selectors and team management want him as the third opener in Australia. You need a third opener there, as injuries could take place during a long five-Test series,” TOI quoted a reliable source as saying.
“There aren’t too many good candidates for the third openers’ slot than Gaikwad. He needs to keep playing red-ball matches. This is why he has been asked to lead ROI in the Irani Cup,” the source added.
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First Test Call-Up Awaits
Gaikwad, who took over as captain of the Chennai Super Kings from MS Dhoni earlier this year, received his first Test call-up during the West Indies series in July 2023 but did not play. He last represented India in the T20I series against Zimbabwe in July 2024. Gaikwad has accumulated 2,273 runs in 32 first-class matches. Following the Irani Cup 2024, he will captain Maharashtra in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, which begins on October 17.
Meanwhile, the Indian team is set to tour Australia later this year for five Tests, beginning on November 22 in Perth. Adelaide will host the day-night Pink Ball Test, while Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney will host the remaining matches.
Last Updated on October 1, 2024
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